On the evening of July 2, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han and Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang attended the U.S. Independence Day reception hosted by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). The event was graced by numerous distinguished guests, including Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim; Secretary General of the National Security Council Jaushieh Joseph Wu; KMT Legislator and Co-Chair of the Legislative Yuan USA Caucus, Dr. Ko Chih-En; KMT Legislator Dr. Ko Ju-Chun; DPP Legislator and President of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL), Tsai Chi-Chang; as well as DPP Legislators Dr. Fan Yun, Dr. Puma Shen, and Chen Kuan-Ting. Also in attendance were Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lin Chia-Lung, other Cabinet members and Ministers without Portfolio, KMT Chairman Eric Chu, TSMC Founder Morris Chang, UMC Founder Robert Tsao, and over 500 guests from the political, academic, business, and diplomatic communities. The atmosphere was grand and festive.

The reception began with the singing of the U.S. national anthem, followed by remarks from AIT Director Raymond F. Greene and Vice President Hsiao. After their speeches, the two exchanged custom-made, autographed baseball jerseys and invited all guests to raise a toast with AIT-branded beer in celebration of the 249th anniversary of U.S. independence.

This year’s reception adopted baseball—a beloved sport in both the U.S. and Taiwan—as its central theme. Many attendees wore baseball jerseys, sported baseball-themed accessories, or donned red, white, and blue caps representing the U.S. flag, provided by the organizers. A mascot representing the CPBL also roamed the venue, adding to the vibrant yet dignified atmosphere.

President Han and Vice President Chiang specially commissioned a well-known Taichung-based bat manufacturer to create a custom-made wooden baseball bat crafted to Major League Baseball (MLB) specifications. The bat was inscribed with the phrase “Home run for Taiwan-U.S. relations” and jointly signed by President Han and Vice President Chiang. Together with Legislator Ko Chih-En, Co-Chair of the Legislative Yuan USA Caucus, they presented the commemorative bat to Director Greene as a symbol of the lasting friendship between Taiwan and the U.S. They expressed hope that through the shared love of baseball, bilateral ties would continue to deepen and endure.

The celebration continued in a warm and convivial atmosphere, filled with camaraderie and goodwill. The event lasted approximately two hours and concluded successfully.