Ambassador Alexander Tah-Ray Yui and Madame Karen Lo welcomed former NBA player and human rights advocate Enes Kanter Freedom, Palladium Pictures LLC President and CEO Michael Pack, Vice President Gina Cappo Pack, and Producer Maria Katrina Yumping to Twin Oaks on July 7 for a luncheon and wide-ranging discussion on international affairs, regional security, democracy, human rights, and future cooperation.
Ambassador Yui noted that 2026 marks two important milestones: the 30th anniversary of Taiwan's first direct presidential election and the 250th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the United States, underscoring the enduring values of freedom and democracy shared by both Taiwan and the United States. Taiwan remains steadfast in safeguarding the universal values of freedom, democracy, and human rights and will continue working with like-minded partners to advance peace, stability, and democratic resilience across the Indo-Pacific. In a rapidly changing international environment, meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding are more important than ever.
Mr. Freedom has long been a prominent advocate for human rights and democratic values around the world. The Chinese-language edition of his forthcoming book, In the Name of Freedom: A Political Dissident's Fight for Human Rights in the NBA and Around the World, is scheduled for publication in Taiwan this September. He also shared his plans to visit Taiwan, where he hopes to engage with political leaders, civil society, and opinion leaders committed to democracy, human rights, and global affairs.
To commemorate the occasion, Ambassador Yui presented Mr. Freedom with a commemorative mug bearing the Chinese characters 「無畏」 ("Fearless"), expressing his hope that Mr. Freedom will continue to speak boldly for freedom, democracy, and human rights. Both sides also expressed their shared interest in exploring future cooperation to further amplify Taiwan's democratic voice on the international stage.
