San Francisco Double Ten Celebration Reception Thousands of People Attended Director of the Department of Classics- Taiwan-US relations are at their best in the past 45 years_1

On October 8th, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco held a National Day celebration for the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Foster City. The event attracted over a thousand guests, including prominent political figures, community leaders, academics, and tech experts from the San Francisco Bay Area, all gathered to commemorate Taiwan’s 113th birthday.

The celebration featured a variety of activities, starting with the singing of the American and Taiwanese national anthems, followed by the unveiling of a large birthday cake adorned with the Republic of China’s flag. Attendees included notable figures such as California State Senator Dave Cortese, Nevada State Assemblyman P.K. O’Neill, Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, Santa Clara County Police Chief Bob Johnson, and Denis Well, the former California commander of the American Overseas Veterans Association, alongside Commander Raymond Wong representing the veterans’ association’s 91st division.

A number of dignitaries shared their congratulations via written messages, including U.S. Congressmen Ro Khanna, Anna G. Eshoo, Eric Swalwell, Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony, Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee, and Cupertino Mayor Sheila Mohan.

Lai Ming-chi, the Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, highlighted the importance of the U.S. in Taiwan’s foreign relations. He noted that Taiwan is the ninth-largest trading partner of the U.S., while the U.S. is Taiwan’s second-largest partner, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $128 billion in 2023. “Taiwan and the United States are true friends who support each other,” he remarked.

He also emphasized Taiwan’s reliability as a trading partner, particularly in supplying high-quality computer chips essential for smartphones and Tesla vehicles. Lai pointed to the strong U.S. support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, referencing U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell’s comment that UN Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan, reinforcing Taiwan’s rights to participate. “I firmly believe that U.S.-Taiwan relations are at their best in the past 45 years,” Lai stated.

Reflecting on Taiwan’s rich history, Lai recalled the founding of the Republic of China by Dr. Sun Yat-sen 113 years ago, declaring that Taiwan today stands as a beacon of hope and a model for democracy in Asia.

Senator Cortese echoed Lai’s sentiments, emphasizing that U.S.-Taiwan relations thrive on trust and cooperation, and he pledged to deepen these ties to create more opportunities for Taiwan in international exchanges.

Lai also shared his achievements during his tenure, noting his participation in over 1,800 events over the past four years, facilitating Vice President Lai Ching-te’s transit through San Francisco twice last year, hosting a Taiwanese APEC delegation in November, signing a driving license exchange agreement with Utah in May, and acquiring a new building for the San Francisco office while inviting Nevada’s lieutenant governor to visit Taiwan.

The National Day celebration included engaging activities such as ice sculptures and a giant birthday cake representing both U.S. and Taiwanese flags. Guests enjoyed flavors of Taiwan with local vendors serving fried rice, fried vermicelli, and Taiwanese beer, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a vibrant Taiwanese night market.