TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Michigan Senate passed a pro-Taiwan resolution on Thursday, marking the fourth consecutive year it has adopted such a document.

Members of the Michigan-Taiwan Friendship Caucus, including Co-Chair Senator Stephanie Chang (張理) and several other lawmakers, read the resolution aloud during the session, per CNA. Senators Chang and Rosemary Bayer took turns reading the text of the resolution, which was passed unanimously with applause from all members.

In her remarks, Bayer condemned China's military exercises and gray zone tactics, reaffirmed the US commitment to Taiwan through the Six Assurances, and praised Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to maintain regional stability. 

The document commends recent US Congressional initiatives, such as military aid to Taiwan and progress on the US-Taiwan 21st Century Trade Initiative. It affirms support for Taiwan’s “integrated diplomacy,” highlighting values-based and alliance diplomacy, and reiterates backing for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has visited Taiwan twice recently, meeting with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴). Michigan has established a trade office in Taiwan, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding with Taiwan’s representative office in Chicago. 

The resolution said that when conducting business with Taiwan, Michigan firms should refer to the country as “Taiwan.” The document cited Section 4 of the Taiwan Relations Act as authorizing US companies to use this nomenclature.

It also calls on Taiwan to sign a bilateral trade agreement and a tax treaty with the US to avoid double taxation between the two countries.

Dennis Yen-Feng Lei (類延峰), director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, expressed gratitude for the steadfast bipartisan support from Michigan’s Senate.