113.1.15. (國際處033)
游錫堃：新執政團隊有賴全球台商支持 讓台灣能穩健邁向前方
YOU Si-kun：The New Government would rely on the support of overseas Taiwanese entrepreneurs to allow our country to stride forward
立法院游錫堃院長今(15)日上午出席假台北萬豪酒店舉辦之「北美洲台灣商會聯合總會」第36屆第2次理監事聯席會議開幕典禮，現場貴賓包括行政院鄭文燦副院長、僑委會徐佳青委員長、「世界台灣商會聯合總會」蔡仁泰名譽總會長、黃行德名譽總會長、李天柒總會長、吳光宜候任總會長、「北美洲台灣商會聯合總會」江俊霖總會長等幹部，以及楊信、田詒鴻、林見松三位國策顧問及來自全球台商代表近450人，場面盛大。
On the morning of January 15, 2024, President YOU attended the opening ceremony of the 36th Session of the 2nd Joint Meeting of Directors and Supervisors of the "Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of North America" (TCCNA) held at the Taipei Marriott Hotel. Other distinguished guests included Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan Cheng Wen-tsan, Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council Hsu Chia-ching, Honorary President of the "World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce" Tsai Jen-tai, Honorary President James Huang, President Steven Lee, President-elect of TCCNA Kenneth Wu, and incumbent President TCCNA Joey Chiang. Also in attendance were three national policy advisors to the President Jackson Hsin, Yee Phong Thian, and Jason Lin, along with approximately 450 representatives from overseas Taiwanese entrepreneurs, making it a grand occasion.
院長致詞時首先歡迎各位貴賓，這次會議特別選在台灣舉辦，他了解大家很關心2024年的大選。這次選舉結果是由「賴蕭配」順利當選，但是在立法院委員改選部分，沒有任何政黨取得過半數席次，這在全世界民主國家都很常見，也是台灣民主化道路上早晚必經的過程。院長復提及， 2000年陳水扁總統執政時期，2002年他獲任命為行政院長，就曾經經歷「朝小野大」的政治局勢。他特別引述新當選賴清德總統的說法：「風平浪靜看不到美麗浪花」，希望大家未來能持續支持賴總統及其執政團隊，讓台灣這艘船能夠穩健的駛向前方。
In his speech, President YOU started by extending his warm welcome to all distinguished guests. While the venue was set in Taiwan for this year’s joint meeting, much attention was focused on the recently held general elections. As the result was official announced, the "Lai- Hsiao" ticket emerged victorious in the presidential election. However, no political parties secured a majority of seats in the Legislative Yuan. President YOU commented that a divided government is not an unusual phenomenon in democracies worldwide and is a necessary stage for Taiwan in its democratization process. President YOU shared his experience while served during the presidency of Chen Shui-bian in 2000. In 2002, he was appointed as Premier of the Executive Yuan and went through a period of political turbulence due to the divided government at that time. He specifically quoted the newly elected President, Lai Ching-te’s statement: "A calm sea would never make beautiful waves" and expressed his hope that President Lai and his administration will continue to receive support to steer Taiwan smoothly forward.
院長繼表示，台商朋友們對台灣的貢獻卓著，「北美洲台灣商會聯合總會」成立於1986年成立，正是民進黨組黨的同一年。當時他是圓山組黨大會的主席，在當年9月28日組黨後，在十天後的10月7日，時任蔣經國總統接受美國《華盛頓郵報》發行人葛蘭姆女士專訪時表示，台灣即將解除戒嚴，才讓他對組黨的未來安下心來。1987年2民進黨組成「民進黨美日外交訪問團」，前往美國、日本進行為期兩週的訪問，在海外受到各地台灣僑胞的熱烈歡迎，如今回顧起來備感溫馨。院長強調，不論是「台灣人公共事務會」(Formosan Association for Public Affairs, FAPA)、「全美台灣同鄉會」或是各地的台灣商會，對台灣的發展都有很大的幫助。
President YOU then expressed gratitude to Taiwanese business entrepreneurs for their remarkable contributions. TCCNA was established in 1986, which coincided with the same year when the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was founded. He recalled he served as the chairman of the party's founding convention at The Grand Hotel. On October 7, 1986, just ten days after the party's establishment on September 28, then-President Chiang Ching-kuo, in an exclusive interview by Mrs. Katharine Graham, the publisher of The Washington Post, announced that Taiwan’s martial law would be lifted. Only then did he feel relieved about the DPP’s future. In 1987, the DPP formed the "DPP U.S. & Japan Diplomatic Delegation," which embarked on a two-week visit to the United States and Japan. The delegation received a warm welcome from overseas compatriots, which remains a heartwarming memory. President YOU emphasized that organizations such as the “Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA)”, the “Taiwanese Association of America”, and Taiwanese chambers of commerce worldwide have contributed a lot to Taiwan's development.
院長復指出， 1979年4月10日，美國政府頒布的《台灣關係法》正式生效，此後台美關係陷入低潮。直到2017年12月18日，美國川普總統發布上任後第一份《國家安全戰略》（NSS）報告，在該報告中美國首度將中國由過去的「戰略夥伴」視為「戰略競爭對手」，此為美國對中國立場轉換的分水嶺。隔(2018)年，川普總統分別於3月16日及12月31日簽署《台灣旅行法》及《亞洲再保證倡議法》，將過去的「六項保證」正式入法；《台北法案》及《台灣保證法案》於2020年3月26日及12月27日分別正式生效。2022年12月23日，拜登總統簽署《2023年度國防授權法案》，授權提供高達約100億美金軍援台灣。至隔(2023)年8月29日，美國政府首度通知國會，動用只適用於主權國家的外國軍事融資對台灣進行「無償軍援」。此外，「台美21世紀貿易倡議」首批協定亦在2023年6月1日完成簽署。這些法案能夠通過，實不啻於是各位台商持續努力的成果，讓台美合作關係得以深化。院長最後代表台灣國會，對全球台商再度表達感謝。
President YOU further pointed out that on April 10, 1979, the United States passed the “Taiwan Relations Act”, which led to a downturn in Taiwan-U.S. relations. It wasn't until December 18, 2017, when President Trump issued his first National Security Strategy (NSS) report that the United States, for the first time, viewed China not as a "strategic partner" but as a "strategic competitor," marking a critical watershed in the U.S. stance towards China.In the following year (2018), President Trump signed the “Taiwan Travel Act” on March 16 and the “Asia Reassurance Initiative Act” on December 31. Both acts formalized the past "Six Assurances." The “Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act” and the “Taiwan Assurance Act” came into effect on March 26 and December 27, 2020, respectively. On December 23, 2022, President Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, authorizing approximately $10 billion in military aid to Taiwan. Then, on August 29, 2023, the U.S. government, for the first time, notified Congress of the use of foreign military financing for sovereign states to provide Taiwan with "non-repayable military aid". Furthermore, the "U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade" was signed on June 1, 2023. The passage of these acts should be attributed to the continuous efforts of overseas Taiwanese entrepreneurs, which have deepened the Taiwan-U.S. relationship. In closing, on behalf of Taiwan’s congress, President You expressed gratitude once again to overseas Taiwanese entrepreneurs.
院長致詞結束後，特別贈送《衝破黨禁1986》及《台灣民主百年追求》系列套書給江總會長，並與出席貴賓上台合影，嗣因另有要公先行離席。繼由行政院鄭文燦副院長及徐佳青委員長等貴賓接續上台致詞。開幕典禮現場氣氛熱絡，歷約一小時後圓滿結束。
After the speech, President YOU presented the book《Breaking the Ban on Political Parties in 1986》and the book series《Democratic Taiwan, A Century of Pursuit》to President Chiang. Then he took group photos with other distinguished guests on the stage. After President You left the venue due to other scheduled engagement, Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan Cheng Wen-tsan and Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council Hsu Chia-ching took the stage to deliver their speeches. The opening ceremony was concluded in an hour in a relaxed and amicable vibe.
