Illinois House Passes Pro-Taiwan Resolution, Supporting Visits by High-Level Officials

The Illinois House of Representatives passed a pro-Taiwan resolution on the 28th, supporting Taiwan's participation in international organizations and the ability of high-level officials to visit Taiwan without threats from hostile external forces, thereby strengthening bilateral relations. The Illinois House of Representatives passed Resolution 0811 on the 28th, firmly supporting the deepening of relations between Taiwan and Illinois. It reaffirmed support for the Taiwan Relations Act, the negotiation of a bilateral trade agreement between Taiwan and the U.S., and the avoidance of double taxation. It also supported Taiwan's meaningful participation in the United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and INTERPOL, and opposed the distortion or abuse of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to prevent Taiwan from contributing to the international community. The resolution strongly supports Illinois businesses referring to Taiwan as Taiwan, and supports the negotiation of economic and trade agreements between the two sides, the establishment of offices in Taiwan, and visits by high-level officials to Taiwan without threats from hostile external forces to strengthen bilateral relations. The resolution was proposed by William Davis, Democratic co-chair of the Illinois House Taiwan Friendship Caucus, and co-signed and passed by 11 bipartisan state representatives, including Republican co-chair Jeff Keicher, Deputy Majority Leader Natalie Manley, Assistant Minority Leader John M. Cabello, International Relations, Tourism and Trade Committee Chair Dave Vella, Vice Chair Sue Scherer, Asian American Caucus Taiwanese Chair Janet Yang Rohr, and pro-Taiwan state representatives Jawaharial Williams, Matt Hanson, Joyce Mason, and Nicolle Grasse. The resolution points out that Taiwan, the United States, and Illinois share the values of freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace, and prosperity. In 2024, Taiwan imported $3.8 billion worth of agricultural products from the U.S., making it the 8th largest agricultural market for the U.S. In September 2025, Taiwan committed to purchasing $10 billion worth of soybeans, corn, wheat, and beef from the U.S. over the next four years. Furthermore, Taiwan is Illinois' 7th largest export market in Asia, with Illinois exporting $807 million in goods to Taiwan. Taiwan has invested $68 million in Illinois, and trade and investment between Taiwan and Illinois support 5,600 local jobs, with 46 Taiwanese-invested companies operating in Illinois. Lei Yen-feng, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, expressed gratitude for the passage of the resolution, emphasizing that "a strong Taiwan makes a strong America, and a stronger world." Illinois is an important economic and sister-state partner for Taiwan, and the two sides have increasingly close cooperative relationships in quantum technology, semiconductors, agriculture, and food supply chains. He noted that the "SelectUSA" food business delegation from Taiwan recently visited Illinois, and faculty and student delegations from the University of Illinois, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago have visited Taiwan, while representatives from Taiwanese universities and companies continue to visit Illinois for exchanges.