‘Strengthening the bonds of our partnership’

OPINION:

On June 12, 2026, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) and the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America (TCCNA) held a reception at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary.

The reception also marked the 30th anniversary of Taiwan’s direct presidential election as well as a new milestone in bilateral engagement with the launch of the first-ever direct flight between Taipei and Washington, D.C.

Ambassador Alexander Tah-ray Yui told the crowd of around 1,000 guests that these two anniversaries are precisely what the United States and Taiwan have in common — “strengthening the bonds of our partnership,” according to a news report by Central News Agency. Amb. Yui also mentioned Taiwan as the fourth-largest trading partner with the United States and reaffirmed Taiwan’s democratic resolve against mainland China’s threats and commitment to increased defense spending to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

TCCNA President Dr. Eugenia Henry said the event celebrated the shared values and friendship between Taiwan and the United States, while recognizing the contributions of Taiwanese Americans and businesses in strengthening bilateral ties.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said Alaska is the U.S. state closest to Taiwan. He recalled visiting Taiwan last year to advance U.S.-Taiwan cooperation on natural gas and noted that Taiwan and the United States share strong similarities in their systems of government, commitment to freedom and human rights, business models and semiconductor industries.

Gov. Dunleavy added that the democratic experiment launched by the United States 250 years ago continues to be practiced and upheld in Taiwan today. He cited a famous remark by Founding Father Benjamin Franklin following the Constitutional Convention of 1787, underscoring that democracy and freedom — whether in the United States or Taiwan — are long-term endeavors that require “the collective effort, vigilance, and commitment of all people to preserve and sustain.”

Among the guests were American Institute in Taiwan Managing Director Ingrid Larson; Madeleine Bordallo, director of the Washington, D.C., Liaison Office of the Governor of Guam; Minister Chia-Ching Hsu of Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council; Johnson Hsiung, president of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce; Jackson Yang, honorary president of TCCNA; and Kenneth Wu, honorary president of TCCNA.

The evening featured a photo exhibition of historic Taiwan-U.S. relations and various stands highlighting Taiwan-U.S. long-standing partnership in agriculture, technology and education. Taiwan’s major airlines also participated in this event, and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology displayed Taiwan’s drone capabilities.

• ChiuFen McDevitt is a founding partner of the Taiwan Freedom Project.