The 2024 “US-West Taiwan American Summer Conference” returned to Los Angeles after a nine-year hiatus. The three-day, two-night event took place from July 12th to 14th, with activities held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Rosemead and the Los Angeles Taiwanese Hall. In addition to the packed seminars and forums, this year also featured a cultural and educational camp for young Taiwanese Americans, aiming to engage different generations and provide a fruitful experience for all participants.
Chairman of the conference, Wu Zhaofeng, emphasized the theme of “investing in Taiwanese Americans, enhancing Taiwan’s value,” bringing together 47 experts from fields such as mental health, education, sports, and business. The event provided a platform for the exchange of knowledge and highlighted the common goals of Taiwan and the US in pursuing freedom, democracy, and human rights.
Distinguished guests in attendance included congressmen Brad Sherman and Liu Yunping, Torrance Mayor Chen Guanghao, San Marino Mayor Huang Wengu, Yorba Linda City Councilor Huang Ruiya, Alhambra School Board member Zhang Longzheng, and FBI agents. Members of Congress Judy Chu, Young Kim, and Michelle Steel, as well as Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, sent video messages congratulating the opening of the summer conference.
Chairman of the Overseas Community Affairs Council of the Republic of China, Xu Jiaqing, along with officials from the LA Taiwanese Center and Orange County Taiwanese Center, participated in the event. Xu Jiaqing, having attended similar Taiwanese American summer conferences in cities like Philadelphia and Denver, expressed delight in witnessing the rising profile of Taiwan in mainstream American society and encouraged active participation in public affairs among Taiwanese Americans. She hopes to see more Taiwanese Americans engage in politics and serve their community, advocating for the voices of Taiwanese Americans.
In her video message, Judy Chu highlighted Taiwan as one of the top ten trading partners of the US and a crucial friend providing thousands of jobs for Americans. She is actively promoting a comprehensive free trade agreement between the US and Taiwan and urging the Senate to pass the “United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act,” which has overwhelming support in the House, to address tax issues for Taiwan and American companies operating in both regions.
Young Kim expressed gratitude to the organizers, emphasizing the platform provided for empowering Taiwanese Americans and strengthening US-Taiwan relations. She pledged ongoing support for Taiwan, reinforcing the alliance between Taiwan and the US against aggression, and ensuring a world based on freedom and democratic values. She acknowledged the vibrant culture, thriving businesses, and democratic values cherished by Taiwanese Americans as integral parts of American society.
Michelle Steel underscored the significant Taiwanese population in Southern California, recognizing their pivotal role in promoting cultural exchanges and fostering friendship between Taiwan and the US. She reiterated the shared values of freedom, democracy, and human rights between the US and Taiwan while condemning recent military exercises by the Chinese Communist Party against Taiwan, standing in support of Taiwan and denouncing the party’s aggressive behavior.
The summer conference provided a diverse program of activities. On Saturday, the event began with a speech by Miss Asia USA, Zhang Fangyu, discussing the soft power of Taiwanese Americans in diplomacy through the “Taiwanese-American Miss Pageant.” Over forty speakers addressed topics such as the Taiwanese American community, Taiwan’s politics, and US-Taiwan relations, covering themes like “Taiwan Hall – Overseas Taiwanese Connection,” “The Transnational Oppression of the Chinese Communist Party and its Impact on the Taiwanese American Community,” and “Keynote Speech on US-Taiwan Relations,” enhancing the understanding of relevant issues among Taiwanese Americans in Los Angeles and across the Western US.
The event was supported by various co-organizers including the Taiwanese American Association of the United States (TAAUSA), Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), North America Taiwanese Women’s Association (NATWA) SoCal Chapter, Taiwanese United Fund (TUF), and Southern California Taiwanese Hakka Association among others.