Taiwan marked its 114th National Day on Friday, with Ambassador Fiona Huei-Chun Fan emphasizing the island’s steadfast commitment to defending democracy and maintaining regional peace. Speaking at a cocktail reception in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Fan highlighted the persistent challenges Taiwan faces from China, including military intimidation, economic coercion, and diplomatic suppression. Despite these pressures, she asserted Taiwan’s resolve to remain calm and resolute, neither provoking nor yielding to external threats. Fan reiterated that Taiwan’s future will be determined solely by its 23 million citizens, emphasizing that neither Taiwan nor China is subordinate to the other. She also underscored Taiwan’s dedication to collaborating with like-minded democracies, such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to ensure the Indo-Pacific remains a region of peace, freedom, and shared prosperity. Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1981, the two nations have fostered a partnership rooted in mutual respect, democratic values, and shared economic goals. Fan expressed gratitude for St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ support for Taiwan’s international participation, particularly in UN agencies related to health, climate change, and civil aviation. She also highlighted Taiwan’s significant contributions to global technology, with its brands like ASUS and ACER dominating the laptop market and its production of 90% of the world’s AI servers. Taiwan’s collaboration with St. Vincent and the Grenadines extends to agriculture, security, and healthcare, including the construction of the Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital, a $125 million project symbolizing their enduring friendship. Fan concluded by emphasizing the importance of youth empowerment, with Taiwan funding various educational and entrepreneurial programs to support the next generation.
Taiwan ‘will neither provoke nor yield’ — Ambassador Fan
