President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Friday told a large gathering of Taiwanese expats in Denver, Colorado, that Taiwan would not succumb to pressure, but would continue to safeguard its freedoms, democracy and sovereignty.
“Many of you here today are concerned about Taiwan’s future,” Tsai said, addressing the 700-plus Taiwanese guests at a banquet held in her honor during her stopover in Denver on the return leg of her visit to Taiwan’s four diplomatic allies in the Caribbean.
Many people are anxious because China is perceived as closing in on Taiwan and has resorted to a carrot-and-stick approach to pressure Taiwan’s 23 million people into accepting its “one country, two systems” model, Tsai said, mostly in English, but with some Mandarin and Hoklo (commonly known as Taiwanese) thrown in.
Photo: CNA
Feelings of anxiety have been heightened by the sight of Hong Kong gradually losing its freedoms and democracy, she said, referring to massive protest triggered by an extradition bill that would allow the Hong Kong government to extradite criminal suspects to China.
“That has us worried about whether Taiwan’s sovereignty and democracy will also disappear,” Tsai said at the banquet, which was also attended by American Institute in Taiwan Chairman James Moriarty, Colorado Governor Jared Polis, US Senator Cory Gardner and US Representative Doug Lamborn.
Tsai said that China’s suppression of Taiwan has been evident throughout her trip, including several complaints that Beijing lodged with the US government.
It has also shown up as information warfare, or disinformation, used to infiltrate Taiwanese society, she said.
“Next year will be a critical time for us to safeguard Taiwan’s democracy,” Tsai said, urging Taiwanese expats to return home next year to vote.
Solidarity is needed in the fight to protect Taiwan’s democracy and way of life for future generations, said Tsai, who is seeking re-election.
Arriving at about 3pm on Friday in Denver — the last leg of her 12-day overseas visit, including a stopover in New York City — Tsai and her delegation were received by Moriarty and Representative to the US Stanley Kao (高碩泰).
Prior to Tsai’s arrival, hundreds of Taiwanese expats had gathered outside the Hilton Denver City Center, where she was to stay.
Many waved the national flags of the Republic of China and the US, while others held banners that read: “Taiwan,” or bore slogans such as “Freedom and democracy, safeguard Taiwan.”
About a dozen Chinese protesters demonstrated near the hotel, waiving the People’s Republic of China national flag and chanting: “One China.”
No clashes occurred.
Tsai’s itinerary yesterday included visits to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a US federal laboratory dedicated to renewable energy development, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which developed Formosat-7, the second satellite cluster jointly built by Taiwan and the US.
She is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan tomorrow.
People can take the Taipei MRT free of charge if they access it at Nanjing Sanmin Station or Taipei Arena Station on the Green Line between 12am and 6am on Jan. 1, the Taipei Department of Transportation said on Friday, outlining its plans to ease crowding during New Year’s events in the capital. More than 200,000 people are expected to attend New Year’s Eve events in Taipei, with singer A-mei (張惠妹) performing at the Taipei Dome and the city government’s New Year’s Eve party at Taipei City Hall Plaza, the department said. As people have tended to use the MRT’s Blue or
Civil society groups yesterday protested outside the Legislative Yuan, decrying Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) efforts to pass three major bills that they said would seriously harm Taiwan’s democracy, and called to oust KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁). It was the second night of the three-day “Bluebird wintertime action” protests in Taipei, with organizers announcing that 8,000 people attended. Organized by Taiwan Citizen Front, the Economic Democracy Union (EDU) and a coalition of civil groups, about 6,000 people began a demonstration in front of KMT party headquarters in Taipei on Wednesday, organizers said. For the third day, the organizers asked people to assemble
Taipei is participating in Osaka’s Festival of Lights this year, with a 3m-tall bubble tea light installation symbolizing Taiwan’s bubble tea culture. The installation is designed as a bubble tea cup and features illustrations of Taipei’s iconic landmarks, such as Taipei 101, the Red House and North Gate, as well as soup dumplings and the matchmaking deity the Old Man Under the Moon (月下老人), affectionately known as Yue Lao (月老). Taipei and Osaka have collaborated closely on tourism and culture since Taipei first participated in the festival in 2018, the Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism said. In February, Osaka represented
Taiwanese professional baseball should update sports stadiums and boost engagement to enhance fans’ experience, Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) told the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) in an interview on Friday. The league has urged Farglory Group and the Taipei City Government to improve the Taipei Dome’s outdated equipment, including relatively rudimentary television and sound systems, and poor technology, he said. The Tokyo Dome has markedly better television and sound systems, despite being 30 years old, because its managers continually upgraded its equipment, Tsai said. In contrast, the Taipei Dome lacked even a room for referees
RSS