Despite the chilly weather, hundreds of Taiwanese expatriates from San Francisco’s South Bay Area attended the Republic of China (Taiwan) flag-raising ceremony at the Culture Center of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sunnyvale, California to celebrate New Year’s Day 2012.
Among the dignitaries were Jack K. C. Chiang, director of the San Francisco TECO, Paul Fong, California State Assembly member, Jose Esteves, Mayor of Milpitas, Kansen Chu, councilmember of San Jose City, Barry Chang, councilmember of Cupertino City, Kris Wang, former councilmember of Cupertino, Emily Lo, councilmember of Saratoga City, Cynthia Chang, member of Los Gatos-Saratoga School District, Lili Mei, member of the Fremont School District and Steve Cho, former councilmember of Fremont City.
Addressing the ceremony, Jack K. C. Chiang said in the past year, the Republic of China on Taiwan has celebrated its centennial anniversary with splendid achievements, while the world has witnessed a wave of demands for democracy sweeping the Middle East, mainland China and other places. Such movements show that democracy is a universal value, said Chiang. Through a century of efforts, the ROC on Taiwan has become not only a democratic country, but also a country of justice with mercy, boundless love, and a respect for human rights.
In 2012, Chiang said, Taiwan will continue to protect its 23 million people from military threats, and to strengthen the island’s soft power in the world by promoting further economic trade and development, technological innovation, tourism and culture.
Later in the day Chiang attended another ROC flag-raising ceremony held at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in San Francisco’s Chinatown.