On April 2, 2024, on behalf of President Daniel K.Y. Han, Deputy Secretary-General Chang Yu-jung of the Legislative Yuan attended at 10:00 a.m. the inauguration of Taiwan Association for Promoting Cooperation and Exchanges in ACG and Esports Industry Policies, convened by Legislator Lo Ting-wei. Also in attendance were Legislators Mai Yu-chen, Chang Chih-lun, Liao Wei-hsiang, Chang Chi-kai, Hsu Chiao-hsin, Ko Ju-chun, and former Legislator Lin Wei-chou; Vice Culture Minister Hsu Yi-chun, Director-General Cheng Shih-chung of Sports Administration under the Ministry of Education (MOE); Deputy Director-General Lin Jiunn-shiow of Administration for Digital Industries under the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA); CEO Sean Lien of the Youth Development Foundation; Chairperson Michael Shih of Taiwan Cyber Athlete Association; CEO Xue Hong-wei of Beyond Gaming; Chair Liu Po-wei of COSPLAY International Communication Association (CICA); CEO Santiago Huang of 4Gamers; CEO Jerry Yen of Carry Live Co.; Chair Liu Jia-hao of ACG Occupational Union; NEAL Liu as a representative for Taiwan esports players.

The inauguration commenced under the address from Convener Lo Ting-wei, before a round of discussion of the organizational charters of the Association, where all attending legislators consented to the change of the name of the Association from “Taiwan Association for Promoting Cooperation and Exchanges in ACG Industry Policies” to “Taiwan Association for Promoting Cooperation and Exchanges in ACG and Esports Industry Policies.” After the organizational charter of the Association was passed and its president and vice presidents elected, a remark was given by Deputy Secretary-General Chang. Deputy Secretary-General Chang expressed that it was an honor to attend the grand event on behalf of President Han. Taiwan’s esports industry has been booming in recent years, which is part of the key driving force that leads Taiwan’s cultural development. In 2023, Taiwanese comic artist Jason Chien was announced as the gold prize winner of the 17th International Manga Award, organized by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Japan has also been actively promoting Taiwanese comics in recent years, which is a sign of deepened bilateral exchanges. Video games, for another, are now trending among younger generations, leading a new wave of popular culture. In addition to the advantages of market strategies in esports in the video games, Taiwan also boasts a high degree of cultural inclusion and acceptance. For this reason, video games, animation and comics have been able to flourish under such cultural background that Taiwan features and to gradually become part of people’s everyday life; there are even several projects featuring Taiwanese elements and an array of themes.

Deputy Secretary-General Chang continued to state that the Association established could serve as a platform to increase international collaborations. Taiwan will be able to formulate policies in line with current trends, create a more friendly industrial environment, and build a comprehensive industrial chain, which, in turn, will also help boost Taiwan’s ACG culture and esports industry. With efforts with international allies to promote creative culture and to facilitate technological development, it is believed that Taiwan’s international visibility can be enhanced through the combination of culture as its soft power in addition to hard power. In closing, Deputy Secretary-General Chang wished good health and great fortune to the legislators and distinguished guests present, as well as a success to the inauguration.

Later on, remarks were given by Vice Culture Minister Hsu, Director-General Cheng of Sports Administration, Deputy Director-General Lin of Administration for Digital Industries, CEO Lien of the Youth Development Foundation, former Legislator Lin Wei-chou, Chairperson Shih of Taiwan Cyber Athlete Association, CEO Xue of Beyond Gaming, Chair Liu of CICA, CEO Huang of 4Gamers, NEAL Liu as an esports player representative, CEO Yen of Carry Live Co., Chair Liu of ACG Occupational Union, and Legislator Chang Chih-lun as the newly elected vice president of the Association. The event concluded after 1 hour and 30 minutes in warmth and joy with group photos taken once again at the warm invitation of the attending guests.