After China deal, traditional WV resolution honoring Taiwan isn’t so simple

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Each year, the houses of West Virginia’s Legislature typically pass a resolution honoring the state’s friendly trade relationship with Taiwan.

But it’s not every year that West Virginia also announces a trade relationship with China said to value $83 billion.

So this year’s Taiwan resolution sat on the backburner in the House of Delegates until the legislative session ended.

Rodney Miller

“It’s only an assumption on my part as a result of the $80 billion mystery memorandum of understanding that no one has seen yet,” said Delegate Rodney Miller, D-Boone, the main sponsor of the Taiwan resolution.

“Other than that I never really got a straight answer. It didn’t run.”

China and Taiwan have a complicated relationship.

Taiwan, a small island, is just 180 miles east of China.

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be united. Taiwan’s leaders say it is a sovereign state. Taiwan has its own constitution and democratically-elected leaders.

In recent years, Taiwan has relaxed rules on visits to and investment in China.

Woody Thrasher

Last November, West Virginia Commerce Secretary Woody Thrasher flew to China for the ceremonial signing of a memorandum of understanding said to represent up to $83 billion in investment.

Although the deal focuses on the possibility of products from West Virginia’s natural gas supply, few details — still — have emerged.

“Who in the world can even begin to describe what $83.7 billion of money investment is,” Gov. Jim Justice said right after the deal was announced.

Maybe too much to risk on a resolution.

Daryl Cowles

“We did talk about it in caucus a little bit — the House resolution but there was a general feeling that resolutions don’t carry much weight of law mixed with concern that it may harm or interfere with the Chinese economic development deal that had been underway with the department of Commerce,” said House Majority Leader Daryl Cowles.

Back when the situation was different, Cowles traveled to Taiwan to build relationships and to encourage investment in West Virginia. He has been a sponsor of the Taiwan resolution in past years.

“Certainly, I’m a supporter of Taiwan,” Cowles, R-Morgan. “They’ve been a sister state of West Virginia for a good number of years. They’re a democracy in Asia and a fairly decent trading partner for us.”

This year, the House resolution supporting Taiwan was mostly sponsored by Democrats, although there were a few Republicans including Cindy Frich, Charlotte Lane, Zack Maynard, Guy Ward and Steve Westfall.

The wording of the resolution expressed support for Taiwan’s signing of a bilateral trade agreement with the United States, supported Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and stated desire to strengthen and expand sister-state ties between West Virginia and Taiwan.

A version in the Senate, sponsored by Democrats Roman Prezioso, Ron Stollings, Bob Beach and Republican Sue Cline, passed on a voice vote on March 6.

In the House, a trade delegation representing Taiwan had been prepped to visit the Capitol, Cowles said, except the resolution was never taken up.

“I hope it wasn’t seen as a snub to the Taiwanese,” Cowles said. “They’re an awful good partner for us and have been for a long time.”

Then again, Cowles has also received pushback from China, even in years past.

“I had heard from the Chinese embassy before, and they were not entirely happy with the language of the resolution from years past. It had been an issue before,” he said.

Miller, the lead sponsor of the resolution this year, went on a trip to Taiwan in December, along with Delegate Andrew Robinson, a Democrat from Kanawha County.

“Having gone over there back in December, the people of Taiwan really seem to treasure a friendship,” Miller said. “We pass resolutions all the time whether they’re significant or not. But to the people of Taiwan it really means something.”

Andrew Robinson

Robinson said the trip was eye-opening for the potential of continued trade between West Virginia and Taiwan, particularly focused on natural gas products.

He described meetings all over the island, often focusing on technology.

“Any country that has $30 million in trade with a state like West Virginia I’m happy to support that relationship,” Robinson said.





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