The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Vancouver hosted a National Day reception on Friday, Oct. 4, drawing nearly 400 guests, including Canadian officials, Indigenous leaders, and business representatives, to celebrate Taiwan’s founding.<\/p>\n
The Nibun Chorus, recent champions of the Tokyo International Choir Competition composed of Bunun youth, opened the ceremony with Taiwan’s national anthem, followed by traditional Bunun songs and a rendition of “We Are the World.”<\/p>\n
Chief Frank Antoine, World Indigenous Tourism Alliance board chair, described the performance as being “filled with the magic of nature.” He said it reminded him of Taiwan’s natural beauty and announced plans to lead a 30-member delegation to Taiwan later this year for the World Indigenous Games.<\/p>\n
TECO Vancouver Director-General Liu Lih-hsin (\u5289\u7acb\u6b23) thanked the choir for showcasing Taiwan’s cultural richness and said Indigenous cooperation has become an important element of Canada’s 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy, which emphasizes multifaceted engagement with Taiwan. She also highlighted Taiwan’s leadership in technology, trade, healthcare, and social welfare, while criticizing Beijing’s continued misuse of U.N. Resolution 2758 to exclude Taiwan from international organizations.<\/p>\n
Bipartisan Canadian lawmakers also offered support for Taiwan. Liberal Party member Wade Chang (\u5f35\u744b\u9e9f) commended Taiwanese Canadians for their contributions to Canada’s multicultural and economic development, saying their story is also the story of Canada. Conservative MPs Tako van Popta, Marc Dalton, and Chak Au praised Taiwan’s democracy and its role in maintaining Indo-Pacific stability. MP Michael Cooper, in a recorded message, urged Canada to back Taiwan’s participation in global bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization.<\/p>\n
Several British Columbia legislators, mayors, and city councillors also attended, expressing hopes for deeper Taiwan-Canada exchanges. Lyren Chiu (\u90b1\u9e97\u84ee), the GTMA Global Health Association president, said both nations are advancing forward-looking economic strategies. She noted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new infrastructure policy and President Lai Ching-te’s (\u8cf4\u6e05\u5fb7) promotion of Taiwan’s five trusted industries. She said the two countries can jointly build a democratic, non-red supply chain.<\/p>\n