Tsai receives Global Leadership Award from US think tank

Tsai receives Global Leadership Award from US think tank

2023-03-31

President Tsai Ing-wen’s New York stopover culminated on Thursday, with her receiving the Global Leadership Award from the Hudson Institute. She accepted the award for her efforts toward strengthening Taiwan-U.S. ties. She also gave a speech to a closed-door audience of U.S. officials and policy experts. According to a summary of her remarks by the Presidential Office, Tsai pledged to collaborate with likeminded nations to pursue peace and defend democracy.

On her second day in the U.S., President Tsai Ing-wen attended an event held by the Hudson Institute. She accepted a Global Leadership Award and gave remarks about Taiwan’s role in the world.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Today the very conditions that enabled so much freedom and prosperity are actually at risk, not just for Taiwan but for countries the world over.

There were more than 100 people present, most of them U.S. officials or experts from think tanks. As the event was closed to the media, the Presidential Office later released a summary of Tsai’s remarks.

Chang Tun-han
Presidential Office spokesperson
President Tsai emphasized that this award is a tribute to the resilience demonstrated by the people of Taiwan in the face of tremendous challenges. With the courage and persistence of the people of Taiwan, and the support from our U.S. friends, Taiwan began its democratic transition and eventually brought an end to over three decades of martial law. Today, Taiwan stands with likeminded countries in pursuit of peace, prosperity, and the defense of democracy. Secondly, the president stressed that the PRC’s escalation of tension is evident, but Taiwan’s response has been measured and composed, demonstrating to the world that we are the responsible cross-strait stakeholder. The Taiwanese people want peace, not conflict, and history tells us that the best way to avoid war is through building strength. Thirdly, while Taiwan’s ties with the world’s democracies have grown stronger in recent years, we have continued to be excluded from participating in the functions of the United Nations and its affiliated international organizations. Such unjust conditions cannot stand. Taiwan needs support from our fellow democracies to facilitate participation in international organizations. Fourthly, because an unstable Taiwan Strait poses serious economic and security risks to the entire world, it is all the more important for us to safeguard the peace and stability of the region. This means not only increasing our security cooperation, but also facilitating a stronger, more robust economic partnership. Lastly, she stressed that Taiwan is a resilient society that believes in the power of democracy, but we cannot solve 21st-century challenges or push back against authoritarianism alone. We will continue to work with the U.S. and other likeminded democracies to demonstrate that democracy can deliver and that Taiwan is committed to safeguarding our way of life.

Tsai received the Global Leadership Award from the think tank’s board of trustees chair, Sarah May Stern, and its president and CEO, John P. Walters. Photos of the event, along with a summary of Tsai’s remarks, were published on her social media right after the ceremony. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was rumored to attend, but ultimately did not show up.

獲頒"全球領導力獎" 蔡總統:追求和平.捍衛民主

2023-03-31

總統蔡英文過境美國紐約重頭戲，就是出席由華府智庫哈德遜研究所舉辦的活動，獲頒全球領導力獎、也向參與晚會的美國政要、學者發表演說，內容提到，台灣會持續與理念相近的國家一同追求和平繁榮、捍衛民主，而原本傳言前美國國務卿龐培歐會到場，不過最後沒現身。

總統蔡英文過境美國第二天，出席哈德遜研究所舉辦的晚會，不只獲頒全球’’領導力獎’’，更在現場發表演說。

[[總統蔡英文]]
“今天，亞洲的自由和繁榮正面臨嚴重風險，不只是對台灣而言，對世界其他國家也是一樣”

晚會出席人員高達上百人，多半是美國政要及智庫學者，但現場不開放媒體入內，會後由總統府副秘書長張惇涵，轉述總統會中談話重點。

[[總統府副秘書長張惇涵]]
“蔡總統首先就強調，今天這份獎項實際上是向台灣人民來致意，縱使面對艱鉅的挑戰，台灣人民依然展現堅毅的韌性，以及美國友人的支持下，開始了民主轉型，最後終結了長達30多年的戒嚴，今日的台灣與理念相近國家昂首並肩，追求和平、繁榮並捍衛民主。第二、總統強調，中國刻意升高緊張情勢，但台灣總是謹慎並冷靜地回應，讓世界看到台灣在兩岸關係中是負責任的那一方，台灣人民期盼和平，但歷史告訴我們最佳的避戰方法就是讓自己更有實力。第三、總統強調，台灣近年來與世界民主國家的關係持續成長，然而，台灣仍然持續被排除在聯合國及相關國際組織運作之外，如此不公義的情況不能再繼續下去，台灣需要其他民主國家的支持，協助我們參與國際組織。第四、不穩定的台海將帶給全球嚴重的經濟及安全風險，因此對各國而言，維護此一區域之和平及穩定顯得格外重要，這不僅意味著我們要強化安全合作，更需要促成一個更為強健、蓬勃的經濟夥伴關係。第五、台灣充滿韌性，並對民主的力量深信不移，但沒有任何國家能獨力解決21世紀的挑戰或對抗威權主義，我們會持續與美國及理念相近國家合作，證明民主可以獲致成果，並展現台灣有決心守護我們的生活方式”

蔡英文開心接下由哈德遜研究所長華特斯和主席親自頒發的獎項，會談內容、照片也立刻被PO上官網宣傳。只是原本傳出要來的前美國國務卿龐培歐，最後仍沒現身。

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Tsai visits Taiwanese American businesses, representative office in New York

While in New York, President Tsai also connected with the Taiwanese American community. She stopped by a grocery store stocked with Taiwanese products and a breakfast diner serving classic Taiwanese fare, including youtiao. Tsai also paid a visit to Taiwan’s representative office, where she met culinary prodigy Liya Chu and two talented Taiwanese illustrators.

Braving subzero temperatures, President Tsai Ing-wen took a stroll on the streets of New York to visit a grocery store specializing in Taiwanese goods.

The two young Taiwanese American owners say they wanted to introduce Taiwan to more people. Their most popular product is fruit snacks banned in China.

Lillian Lin
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When China banned pineapples, many Americans wanted to help, but didn’t know how. So we started a crowdfunding campaign. We used the money to buy fruits from small farmers in Taiwan and to turn them into dried fruit snacks to bring over. It’s our bestselling product.

After visiting the store, Tsai stopped for breakfast at a joint opened by another Taiwanese American, Josh Ku. As a big fan of baseball, Ku was wearing the jersey of Taiwan’s team at the World Baseball Classic. His chef was clad in another Taiwanese jersey, a gift from Ku.

Josh Ku
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I’m a baseball fan, a huge New York Mets fan, but also when I go back to Taiwan I always try to go to a game. I think going to a baseball game in Taiwan is much different.

Trigg Brown
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I don’t watch sports very much, but we love the name. Brother Elephants.

In the afternoon, Tsai headed to Taiwan’s representative office in the city to meet Taiwanese youths. There, she tried sweet jellies made by culinary prodigy Liya Chu.

She also met two Taiwanese illustrators who were in New York for a comics and cartoon festival.

A ee mi
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I illustrated this book before the referendum on marriage equality in 2018. I am a big supporter of issues like this. I wanted to take Taiwan’s freedom and diverse values to faraway places.

The illustrator’s support for LGBT rights struck a chord with the president, whose administration legalized same-sex marriage in Taiwan. Tsai also appeared delighted by a surprise gift.

It was a portrait of Tsai in the artist’s uniquely charming style.

People rushed to take selfies with the president. It was her first U.S. visit in three years, which added extra significance to the encounter.

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Ma invokes ‘1992 Consensus’ at summit with China’s Taiwan affairs director

Turning now to former President Ma Ying-jeou, who’s halfway through his 12-day China tour. Ma had a meeting with China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Director, Song Tao , on Thursday. Taking center stage was the "1992 Consensus," a framework for cross-strait relations that Ma used during his tenure. During the meeting, Ma brought up the term again and again, but he didn’t once mention its familiar definition - that of "one China, different interpretations." Back in Taiwan, Premier Chen Chien-jen said it was clear that China had already changed the definition, to leave no room for ambiguity and allow only for unification.

Former President Ma Ying-jeou met China’s Taiwan affairs chief, Song Tao, on Thursday. Ma sent his greetings to Xi Jingping and recalled their encounter in 2015.

Ma Ying-jeou
Former president
Mr. Xi and I underscored the importance of the “1992 Consensus.” With the “1992 Consensus,” the two sides of the strait can set aside disputes and create a mutually beneficial relationship.

Ma also touted the cross-strait policies of his administration.

Ma Ying-jeou
Former president
Cross-strait talks resumed, and we signed 23 agreements. There were meetings between the heads of cross-strait affairs, and there were meetings with the leaders of both sides. The two sides established a historic model for peacefully resolving difficult issues.

Song Tao
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office head
Mr. Ma Ying-jeou cares for our peoples and firmly believes in the revitalization of China. On the political foundation of adhering to the “1992 Consensus” and opposing Taiwan independence, he has promoted the peaceful development of cross-strait ties to benefit people on both sides of the strait.

The “1992 Consensus” was brought up five times, as Ma and Song echoed one another. But Ma did not mention the KMT’s definition of the term, which allows for different interpretations of “one China.” Over in Taiwan, Premier Chen Chien-jen had this to say.

Chen Chien-jen
Premier
China has already reformulated the “1992 Consensus,” defining it as “one China” and “one country, two systems.” That’s a definition the people of Taiwan cannot accept. I hope that President Ma can understand that the consensus in Taiwan is that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country.

The premier urged Ma to listen to the people of Taiwan. Earlier during his China tour, Ma visited a COVID-19 exhibition, where he praised China’s management of the outbreak.

Chen Yu-chen
KMT lawmaker
Ma Ying-jeou was referring to the mainland’s approach. Their economy came to a halt so that the virus wouldn’t spread, so I think it’s not wrong in the slightest to thank the government of the mainland for that, for all they’ve done for humankind.

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DPP lawmaker
To use a popular term now, I’m “shook” that they would say such a thing. Now, even the WHO chief is asking China to shed some light on the situation, and to allow an international probe into the matter. Ma Ying-jeou is the only person to praise their management, after visiting Wuhan.

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Voice of Mark Liu
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Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
This store teaches people how to give new life to garbage, and turn waste into new products such as wireless phone chargers and phone stands.

A typical session starts off with using an AI program connected to a camera to learn about what each object is composed of.

Next, participants will move on to check a screen that will indicate whether there are volatile organic compounds, or secondary pollution present during production. The room is wired with air sensors to collect the information.

After that, visitors can take different types of trash and put them into the machine. The trash will be broken into small parts. In just around 10 minutes, this wireless cellphone charger made from garbage is complete. This workshop, called "Trash Kitchen," uses a simple model to allow participants to understand the process of recycling and the circular economy. It uses waste such as plastic bottles and milk cartons, and even parts of used sandals picked up from the beach to make new products like wireless phone chargers, phone stands, flower vases, clothes, and more.

Arthur Huang
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This space, first and foremost, is for education. The front part is education to teach people that everything you see in this space is all made from trash. From the chair to the structure, to all the beautiful fixtures and housewares that you see. It is all made by the daily waste consumption that we produce. We turn that into a durable material. They can learn about the engineering technique from the software, LCA footprint analysis, all the way to the method of making. How do you turn trash into a new building material with smart machinery?

Trash Kitchen is the brainchild of Arthur Huang, the founder of Miniwiz, a company that specializes in upcycling and turning trash into new buildings. Last year, it opened up a workshop to allow people of all backgrounds and ages to learn how to give new life to trash. Huang says the average participant reduces carbon emissions by 1.1 kilograms.

Arthur Huang
Founder and CEO
Pretty much you can make almost anything. All the way from an airplane, to a car, to a robot. But, we have to dumb it down to something that people can actually experience in 20 minutes. So we decided to have a couple of different small products people can bring back. The first foray, we started in November is a cellphone charger. We started with a wireless 10-watt wireless charger.

The workshop is open to the public, NGOs, and institutions to come and learn how to give new life to products.

Arthur Huang
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Taiwan is one of the highest recycling countries and cities in the world. We are the highest, if not, the second to the highest. We are comparing between Japan and Germany. We actually have a total recycling rate of about almost 60 %, and that is considered good, but that is the best in the world. The other one is on the PET level, we are almost considered 95% to 99% fully recycle.

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