Endorsing Taiwan's International Participation, Supporting The Signing Of A United States-taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement, And Commemorating The Relationships And Exchanges Between The State Of Hawaii And Taiwan.
H.R. 115 is a House Resolution expressing the Hawaii House of Representatives’ support for Taiwan’s participation in major international organizations and for closer economic ties between Taiwan and the United States. The resolution endorses Taiwan’s observer participation in the World Health Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization, International Criminal Police Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It also supports the first agreement under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade and urges the United States Trade Representative to begin negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement with Taiwan.
The resolution further commemorates Hawaii’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan, which dates to 1993, and highlights existing cooperation in tourism, agriculture, culture, education, and language exchange. It references Taiwan’s assistance after the 2023 Maui wildfires and the ongoing work of Hawaii’s office in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu as examples of the relationship’s practical significance.
Because H.R. 115 is a resolution rather than a bill, it does not change Hawaii statutes or create enforceable state law. Its effect is primarily declaratory and diplomatic: it formally records the House’s position on Taiwan’s international status, encourages federal trade negotiations, and signals continued state-level support for Hawaii-Taiwan exchanges. The resolution is directed to federal and state officials, including the President, congressional leaders, the Secretary of State, Hawaii’s congressional delegation, the Governor, and the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly supportive of Taiwan and of expanded Hawaii-Taiwan relations. The language emphasizes shared democratic values, economic cooperation, education, public health, aviation, and climate collaboration, suggesting broad favorable intent. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no documented opposition or divided vote history in the available materials.
The main substantive point of contention implied by the resolution is Taiwan’s international status and participation in global organizations, which is a politically sensitive issue in U.S.-China relations. The resolution takes a clear position in favor of Taiwan’s observer participation and a bilateral trade agreement, positions that may be viewed as supportive of Taiwan’s diplomatic standing and economic autonomy. However, the provided record contains no committee debate or vote data showing specific objections, amendments, or named opponents.