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Taipei Liaison Office in the RSA SA-TAIWAN eNews DECEMBER 27TH 2019 PUBLISHER: MATTHEW CHOU ISSUE 12 I, and the South African Government, have enormous appreciation for the contribution that the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has made to the commitment of the Govern- ment sector in the economic development in Africa. The ROC (Taiwan) further, made a gener- ous and much appreciated contribution to South Africa's transition to democracy . Statement by President Nelson Mandela—27 November 1996 Taiwan thanks US president for signing NDAA 2020 The signing of the National Defense fulfill its responsibilities maintaining interagency working group in this Authorization Act 2020 by U.S. regional peace and stability, Taiwan regard. President Donald J. Trump, which will continue to actively improve contains passages highlighting Tai- military readiness and build up its The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and wan’s national security and China’s self-defense capabilities,” he added. National Defense also welcomed attempted electoral interference, is the positive development, saying sincerely appreciated by the coun- Introduced by U.S. Sen. James In- the bill’s enactment reflects the try, according to the Presidential hofe, the legislation describes Tai- unwavering support of both the U.S. Office Dec. 21. wan as a vital partner critical to a executive and legislative branches free and open Indo-Pacific region, for Taiwan. Taiwan and the U.S. share the fun- and reaffirms U.S. commitment to damental values of freedom and the Taiwan Relations Act and Six The MOFA said it will remain in democracy, PO Spokesperson Alex Assurances. close contact with the U.S. on secu- Huang said, adding that the govern- rity issues, while the MND pledged ment will continue working with the It also calls for enhanced Taiwan- to deepen the two sides’ mutually White House to enhance bilateral U.S. cooperation on cybersecurity, beneficiary partnership to ensure security cooperation. and directs the U.S. defense secre- security and stability in the region tary to submit a report on the feasi- and across the Taiwan Strait. “To safeguard national security and bility of establishing a high-level, December Snapshots of Taiwan Left,President Tsai Ing-wen (left), People First Party Chairman James Soong (center) and Kaohsiung City Mayor Han Kuo-yu are all smiles during the first presidential election policy presentation Dec. 18 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of Central Election Commission) ;Middle, An F-16 model takes center stage during a memorandum of understand- ing signing ceremony Dec. 17 between Taichung City-based Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. and U.S.- headquartered Lockheed Martin Corp. on establishing a maintenance center for the aircraft in central Taiwan. (CNA) ;Right,Former MLB pitcher Kuo Hong-chih (right) watches over little leaguers during a baseball camp Dec. 18 in Taoyuan City, northern Taiwan. (Courtesy of Taoyuan City Government) ISSUE 12 SA-TAIWAN ENEWS Headline News Page 2 President Tsai attends 14th Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award ceremony On the morning of December 10, democracy, freedom, and basic hu- President Tsai Ing-wen presented the man rights, but are being oppressed 14th Asia Democracy and Human and attacked by authoritarian govern- Rights Award to the Diplomacy Train- ments. ing Program and conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon on For Taiwanese, even when democracy Mr. Carl Gershman, President of the has become as natural as breathing, US National Endowment for Democ- we cannot forget that safeguarding racy (NED). In remarks, President Tsai democracy is our responsibility, and emphasized that safeguarding democ- supporting democracy is our convic- racy is our responsibility and support- tion. As Taiwanese have shown, peo- ing democracy is our conviction. She ple can change history. When many also called on everyone to join hands ence. That experience inspired him to people unite as one, they have a and continue to work together for advocate for "people's diplomacy," chance to change the course of his- democracy, freedom, and human which links civil society and interna- tory. So let's join hands and continue rights. tional human rights mechanisms to to work together for democracy, free- seek effective remedial measures. dom, and human rights. Thank you. A translation of President Tsai's re- marks follows: Over the past 30 years, the Diplomacy After awarding the Diplomacy Train- I would like to welcome everyone to Training Program has provided assis- ing Program, President Tsai presented this award ceremony. Today is a spe- tance to more than 3,000 human NED President Gershman with the cial day. It is not only Human Rights rights workers from over 60 countries Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cor- Day, but also the 40th anniversary of in the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and don in recognition of his outstanding the Kaohsiung Incident, a pivotal North Africa. Training topics have contribution to enhancing Taiwan-US event in Taiwan's democratization. included human rights, indigenous relations. peoples' rights, migrant workers' A few days ago, I was in Kaohsiung to take rights, environmental protection, and In remarks, President Gershman be- part in a march to commemorate the Kaohsi- LGBTI+ rights. The Diplomacy Training gan by expressing his gratitude to ung Incident. I returned to the historical Program has made it possible for the President Tsai for honoring him. He scene of the incident, together with some of seeds of human rights to flourish and stated that he visited for the first the original participants and their defense bear fruit around the world, and offer time 25 years ago and encouraged attorneys. In the 40 years since that time, mutual support. Taiwan to join the community of everyone has taken a different path in life, countries that was fostering democ- and perhaps thinks differently about politics We have another distinguished guest racy. In the quarter of a century since or joined a different political party. here at today's ceremony whose con- then, he said, Taiwan has become a tributions deserve special mention. dynamic, stable, and successful lib- This is precisely what is precious and That is NED President Carl Gershman. eral democratic model, exemplified endearing about Taiwan's democracy. For many years, the NED has kept a by President Tsai herself as the na- That year, our democratic predeces- close and constant watch on democ- tion's first democratically elected sors showed incredible courage in ratic development around the world, female head of state. resisting oppression by an authoritar- which has been a great source of en- ian government and helped give birth couragement for advocacy groups in President Gershman continued by to the free and democratic Taiwan of many countries. The Taiwan Founda- saying that Taiwanese society now today. The Kaohsiung Incident was a tion for Democracy (TFD) is flourish- embraces universal values like free- turning point in Taiwan's path to de- ing today, also due to President dom, democracy, civil society, and mocratization. Gershman's support. free media. These principles are per- fectly compatible with Confucian cul- The people of Taiwan have not forgot- The Diplomacy Training Program, the ture and are, therefore, truly univer- ten this historical memory. Because NED, and the TFD all share the same sal. China's rise and the threat it now they have not forgotten, democracy objectives: the continuous promotion poses to countries in East Asia and has gradually been consolidated in of universal values of democracy, beyond have made Taiwan's success- Taiwan, and today we are contribut- freedom, and human rights. ful democratic system even more sig- ing to global democracy and human nificant. Taiwan's example, he said, rights initiatives through the Asia De- Today is Human Rights Day and also inspires people to believe in democ- mocracy and Human Rights Award. the 40th anniversary of the Kaohsiung racy and offers ethnic Chinese world- Incident, so I want to appeal to like- wide a vision for a better future, and The winner of this year's Asia Democ- minded friends in the international he believes that a day will come when racy and Human Rights Award is an community: In the history of mankind, the whole world will enjoy freedom organization devoted to transnational democracies have not been around and democracy. empowerment, the Diplomacy Train- that long. But history has proven that ing Program. The Diplomacy Training democracy is the most resilient politi- Also in attendance were TFD Chair- Program was founded in 1989 by for- cal system and can best resolve dis- man Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全), National mer Timor-Leste President José putes and unite the will of the peo- Security Council Secretary-General Ramos-Horta and Emeritus Professor ple. David. T. Lee (李大維), and Nicara- Garth Nettheim. Mr. Ramos-Horta had sought interna- There are many countries and regions guan Ambassador to the ROC William tional support and called for global in our part of the world that are not Manuel Tapia Aleman (Dean of the action to stop human rights violations yet on the path to democratization. foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan). in Timor-Leste before its independ- And there are many people who seek (Source: Office of the President ) ISSUE 12 SA-TAIWAN ENEWS Business and Economics Page 3 President Tsai meets US Assistant Secretary for Global Markets Ian Steff President Tsai Ing-wen met with Ian be expanding their investments in Steff, Assistant Secretary for Global Taiwan, strengthening our crucial Markets and Director General of the place in both the DRAM manufactur- U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service ing industry and the semiconductor at the US Department of Com- supply chain. merce's International Trade Admini- stration on the morning of Decem- Taiwan plays an irreplaceable role ber 9.