Lai Confers awards on non-commissioned officers

Lai Confers awards on non-commissioned officers

2024-08-30

President Lai Ching-te on Friday morning made a special visit to the defense ministry to hand out awards to model non-commissioned officers and squads in celebration of Armed Forces Day. In his speech, he vowed to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty and freedom and democracy. However, he also said Taiwan should become the world’s “helmsman” for global peace. He noted that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are indispensable to global prosperity.

Lai Ching-te
President
Each member of our national military, and each unit, is an indispensable force in defending national sovereignty. I wish you all a happy Armed Forces Day.

In his capacity as commander-in-chief, President Lai Ching-te was accompanied by defense minister Wellington Koo, as he conferred awards on model soldiers.

Lai Ching-te
President
Admiral Chiang’s son has been exposed to the military since he was a child. He is about to become a freshman at the Air Force Academy. The baton has been handed from one generation to another for the nation. Private First Class Chung’s mother has no way of being here as she is undergoing chemotherapy, but I hope mother Chung knows that to be recognized as a role model in the nation’s military, he must have performed extremely well.

President Lai listed the non-commissioned officers who received awards one by one for their efforts in protecting the nation, and he did not forget to mention their spouses and children. In his address, he mentioned his defense and diplomatic policies, as he insisted on defending national sovereignty. He also stressed Taiwan’s determination to use its utmost strength to protect peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Lai Ching-te
President
Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are an indispensable element in global security and prosperity. Taiwan must be the helmsman of peace. We will uphold the four pillars, jointly protect our cherished democracy and freedom, insist on defending national sovereignty to protect Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, and let the Taiwan Strait develop peacefully.

Lai invites all Taiwanese to support the nation’s military and the government has taken the lead in increasing the nation’s defense budget because a “true peace” cannot be reached without strength.

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赴國防部表揚模範士官兵賴總統致詞重申"四個堅持"

2024-08-30

身為三軍統帥的總統賴清德，今天上午特別到國防部為模範士官兵和團體頒獎，致詞不只提到，台灣要成為國際上的和平舵手，台海和平穩定更是全球繁榮不可或缺的要素，並重申四個堅持，堅持守護民主自由，更要持續捍衛國家主權。

[[總統賴清德]]
“捍衛國家主權，每一位國軍，每一個單位都是不可或缺的力量，敬祝各位軍人節快樂”

身為三軍統帥的總統賴清德，在國防部長顧立雄陪同下，親自為國軍楷模頒獎。

[[總統賴清德]]
“江上將的兒子從小耳濡目染，也即將成為空軍官校的新生，一棒接一棒都是為了國家。鍾上兵的母親因為要接受化療，沒有辦法來到現場，但我希望鍾媽媽知道，能夠獲得國軍楷模，一定要表現非常傑出才有辦法”

賴總統一一細數受獎士官兵，為保家衛國做出的努力，連家眷都沒忘記，致詞也重申4個堅持，堅持捍衛國家主權，更強調台灣會全力守護台海和平的決心。

[[總統賴清德]]
“台海的和平穩定是全球安全與繁榮不可或缺的要素。台灣要當和平的舵手，我們會秉持四個堅持，共同守護我們珍惜的民主自由，堅持捍衛國家主權，守護台澎金馬，讓台海和平發展”

邀大家一起挺國軍，政府也帶頭增加國防總預算，因為有實力的和平，才是「真和平」。

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Taiwan may soon to see its first female Judicial Yuan president. At a press conference on Friday, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim announced seven nominations for Constitutional Court judges, including Chang Wen-chen, a distinguished professor at National Taiwan University’s College of Law. Chang is simultaneously also the first woman to be nominated to be Judicial Yuan president. The vice presidential nominee is former Legislator Yao Li-ming. If the opposition-dominated Legislature approves these nominations, the proportion of women among Constitutional Court justices will hit a record high.

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We nominate Ms. Chang Wen-chen as a grand justice and Judicial Yuan president, and Mr. Yao Li-ming as a grand justice and vice president.

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is the convener of a committee charged with head hunting Constitutional Court justices for the Judicial Yuan. She personally announced the new list of nominees, seven in all.

Hsiao Bi-khim
Vice president
Ms. Chang Wen-chen is the first female nominated to be a Judicial Yuan president. Mr. Yao Li-ming has rich experience in participating in constitutional reform and clearly understands the overall context of the development of Taiwan’s democracy. We look forward to this new generation of justices that transcend the political aisle and will lead the promotion of judicial reform, with progressive values and concepts that are compatible with our people’s sense of fairness.

Seven of the 15 serving judges on the Constitutional Court will see their terms expire on Oct. 31. Under President Lai Ching-te, a new list of nominees was announced in accordance with additional provisions of the Constitution. Among them, the nominee for Judicial Yuan president is Chang Wen-chen, a distinguished professor at National Taiwan University’s College of Law. She had been involved in interpreting the Constitution when same-sex marriage was being legalized and adultery was decriminalized. The nominee for vice president is Yao Li-ming, a former legislator and current chairman of a foundation dedicated to monitoring the Legislature. If the appointments are approved by the Legislature, close to half of all the Constitutional Court justices will be women, the highest number in Taiwan’s history.

Chang Wen-chen
Judicial Yuan president nominee
The first time President Lai asked me to serve as Judicial Yuan president was the first time we met. He told me he had been observing me for a long time, and I would like to give him my wholehearted thanks for his faith in me. If I gain the trust and approval of the Legislative Yuan, as Judicial Yuan president, my most important task will be to build social trust in our courts and defend human rights and the rule of law in our democratic Constitution.

The nominations represent a push towards gender equality. Hsiao said she hoped that the nominations could win the Legislature’s approval, so that the functions of the Constitutional Court could continue to flourish and the progress of the constitutional system could be promoted.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Asian American voters culturally, politically diverse

Since 2020, Asian Americans have been the fastest-growing group of eligible voters in the U.S., according to Pew Research Center. In 2022, California had the most eligible Asian American voters in the U.S., followed by New York and Texas. From Houston, Texas, VOA’s Elizabeth Lee has more on the potential and challenges of the Asian American vote.

For flavors from Asia, Houston, Texas is a one-stop-shop. The foods found here reflect the melting pot of Asian cultures living in the counties that make up the Greater Houston region. One of them is suburban Fort Bend County, where Asians make up more than 21% of the population. It’s also where Chinese American immigrant JJ Clemence lives.

JJ Clemence
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I think for either party, they really cannot, cannot afford to ignore the Asian community.

Asian Americans are among the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the U.S., according to Census data. Voter turnout among this group has also seen record increases in the past two presidential elections. The Democratic nominee for president, Kamala Harris, has taken notice and recently released two ads targeting Asians. More Asian Americans call themselves Democrat than Republican. One reason: More than half of Asian American voters are immigrants.

Becky Kim
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I think Trump’s policies hurt minorities a lot.

Richard Murray
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A lot of his policies not only took aim at illegal immigrants from Mexico or South America, but also restricted legal immigration.

Still, a 2024 survey of Asian American voters found that 22% identify as Republicans.

Daniel Wong
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Less government is what Asians want. You know, more freedom and less tax.

The survey also found 31% of Asian American voters identify as independents. But 42% of Asian American voters surveyed say they have not been contacted by political candidates or a political party. Daniel Wong, who had served in local elected office, says Asian American voters are partly responsible.

Daniel Wong
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We are not organized; we don’t understand the American political system. That’s why we don’t know how we’re going to energize to put our energy together to shoot for whatever common goal, which we don’t have.

The projected 15 million Asian Americans eligible to vote have roots in different countries. During the last presidential election, close to 60% of Asian Americans voted. Political activists say forming relationships with new Asian-American citizens and educating them about the political process will mobilize them to get involved.

Elizabeth Lee, VOA News, Houston

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Taiwan has won its first medal at the Paris Paralympics, and its first medal ever in taekwondo at the event. The medal winner is taekwondo practitioner Xiao Xiang-wen, who competed in the men’s K44 58-kilogram division. Xiao says his next goal is to win gold at the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028.

Xiao Xiang-wen and his coach Wu Yen-ni trot around the ring hoisting Taiwan’s Paralympic flag. Xiao’s bronze medal is Taiwan’s first at the Paris Paralympics. It is also Taiwan’s first ever medal in taekwondo at this competition. In the semifinal, Xiao had been up against Israel’s Asaf Yasur, the top seeded fighter. He lost the match 16-6, leaving him in the match for bronze against Spanish rising star Joel Martín Villalobos.

Xiao put on an outstanding offense, winning the match 16-8 and bagging bronze. Though he hadn’t achieved his goal of winning gold, he says the bronze was not a bad result. As a university student, Xiao had been intending to join Taiwan’s national taekwondo team. But before the qualifiers, he was injured in a car accident that damaged a network of nerves in his right arm. Now 25, he has made it to the Paralympic team, and won a bronze to boot. He had his coach to thank.

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It is already extremely hard for able-bodied people to achieve this. And especially for him, having emerged from a low point in life. The injury in his right arm made things more difficult, as it impacted his ability to write and type. So studying and handing in homework became more difficult, but he overcame all the obstacles in his way.

The duo now have their sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, where Xiao hopes to turn his bronze to gold.

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