Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)The United States enjoys a friendly and mutually beneficial relationship with Taiwan. Solid commercial, educational, and cultural ties between the United States and Taiwan could be further strengthened by the inclusion of Taiwan in the United States Visa Waiver Program. (2)As a full-fledged, stable democracy, Taiwan shares with the United States a commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of the law, and a market-based economy. (3)Taiwan is the United States ninth largest trading partner and a key export market in almost every major sector. Trade in commercial goods between Taiwan and the United States totaled nearly $62,000,000,000 in 2010. (4)The United States and Taiwan have long maintained close and productive cooperation in science and technology. Since 1979, the United States and Taiwan have signed more than 190 science and technology agreements under the framework of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office and the American Institute in Taiwan. (5)Taiwan has worked very closely with the United States in the field of education. More than 26,000 Taiwanese studied at colleges and universities in the United States during 2010. (6)These important relationships generate significant interpersonal contact and travel. In 2009, people from Taiwan made more than 500,000 trips to the United States. (7)If allowed to participate in the Visa Waiver Program, holders of Taiwan passports could travel to the United States without the expense and time consuming process of obtaining a visa, which is expected to boost the number of visits for sightseeing and business purposes. Taiwanese travel to the United Kingdom and New Zealand increased by 35 to 40 percent after those countries waived visa obligations. Tourism revenue would increase by an estimated $1,800,000,000 by waiving visa requirements for Taiwanese travelers to the United States. (8)Taiwan has already exempted United States passport holders from visa requirements for visits up to 30 days. By extending similar privileges to Taiwanese travelers, the United States could facilitate people-to-people contacts, enhance cultural links, and expand business opportunities and tourism. (9)During fiscal year 2010, Taiwan’s United States visa refusal rate was 2.2 per cent, which is well below the maximum allowable 3 percent rate for refusals of United States nonimmigrant visitor visa applications under the Visa Waiver Program. (10)Taiwan has a high Human Development Index, which indicates that it has a high income economy. (11)The Government of Taiwan has actively pursued the resumption of mutual trust between Taiwan and the United States at the highest levels. (12)Census figures show that there were about 230,000 Taiwanese residing in the United States in 2010, while unofficial reports put that figure at 500,000. (13)S. Con. Res. 17 was introduced on May 12, 2011, to express the sense of Congress that Taiwan should be accorded observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization and has since been voted favorably out of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. (14)Taiwanese citizens who are in possession of a machine readable passport and have completed Form I–736 (Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Information Form) and Form I–94 (Arrival-Departure Record) may enter Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands without a visa under a visa waiver program that applies to these United States territories.