Acting Director General Hung spoke on Feb. 21 at a conference titled “The Impact of Taiwan’s Recent Elections” hosted by the University of South Carolina’s Walker Institute of International and Area Studies. In his remarks, Acting DG Hung touched on Taiwan’s financial accomplishments and stability, including being the world’s 22nd largest economy according to GDP, and the 18th largest trading nation. Regarding its political accomplishments, he noted that on January 11, 2020, in the 7th direct presidential election in Taiwan’s history, President Tsai Ing-wen won re-election and Taiwan once again showed the world their determination to safeguard the sovereignty, freedom, democracy and human rights the country holds dear. He said that Taiwan serves as a model for China’s development in the future, and stressed the importance of Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), especially with the outbreak and spread of the coronavirus. He ended by wishing everyone a happy and prosperous Year of the Rat.
South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond also addressed the conference. He reiterated South Carolina’s support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as the WHO, the International Civil Aviation Organization, INTERPOL and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He spoke in favor of a free-trade agreement between Taiwan and the US that would further mutual economic and trade cooperation. Secretary Hammond said the more than 40 Taiwanese students currently attend the University under a provision, unique to South Carolina, that student from Taiwan enjoy in-state tuition.
South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond
TECO Atlanta Acting Director General Daniel Hung
From left: TECO Director Martin Chen, Walker Institute Director Dr. Robert Cox, SC Secretary of State Mark Hammond, TECO Acting Director General Daniel Hung
