The US state of Utah last Friday established a bipartisan Utah-Taiwan Friendship Caucus. The group of 11 lawmakers from both houses of Utah’s legislature seeks to deepen cooperation and friendship between Taiwan and the state.
Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and state House Speaker Brad Wilson are both members of the new caucus. In an address following the group’s founding, both leaders said they cherish the traditional friendship between Taiwan and Utah. They say the group will elevate economic and cultural exchanges between both sides and support shared values.
Taiwan and Utah have deep ties. Taiwan is Utah’s sixth largest trading partner. Since 1980, over 40,000 Mormon missionaries have come to Taiwan from Utah, including former Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.
The new caucus comes as lawmakers around the world are forming legislative groups to improve relations with Taiwan. In August, Ukrainian lawmakers founded their own Taiwan friendship group. That came after Taipei’s vocal support of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country.