President Chen Shui-bian (
In his speech congratulating athletes Chen Shih-hsin (
PHOTO: CNA
Chen Shih-hsin won gold in the 49kg division of women's taekwondo, while Chu won gold in the men's 58kg division. The two gold medals were the nation's first at the Olympic Games.
"The excellent performances of the taekwondo competitors in Team Taiwan ... have accomplished Taiwan's dream of winning Olympic gold," Chen said after conferring the two athletes with the Order of the Brilliant Star, Fifth Class.
It marked the first time that athletes have received the Order of the Brilliant Star.
Recalling the athletes' medal presentation ceremonies, Chen told the athletes that at that moment "every one of Taiwan's 23 million people, regardless of ethnic origin or age, felt pride at your achievement ... many were terribly emotional when you declared to the international press that you came from Taiwan."
Calling Chen Shih-hsin and Chu "heroes of the Taiwanese people," the president commended their success and said they helped enhance Taiwan's status and visibility.
"We'll work to pool resources in the public and private sectors to overcome difficulties and allow the world to recognize Taiwan's existence as a sovereign state," Chen said, adding that the medals were "only the beginning of Taiwan's quest for world recognition."
He also expressed the hope that Taiwan's Paralympic Games squad would perform well.
Chen Shui-bian's wife, Wu Shu-chen (
Wu was paralyzed after an act of political violence in 1985.
Referring to a prediction by National Council of Physical Fitness and Sports Chairman Chen Chuan-show (陳全壽) that Taiwan could take five gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, Chen Shui-bian said he hoped that the nation's gold tally could be raised to "lucky seven."
MAKING WAVES: China’s maritime militia could become a nontraditional threat in war, clogging up shipping lanes to prevent US or Japanese intervention, a report said About 1,900 Chinese ships flying flags of convenience and fishing vessels that participated in China’s military exercises around Taiwan last month and in January last year have been listed for monitoring, Coast Guard Administration (CGA) Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin (謝慶欽) said yesterday. Following amendments to the Commercial Port Act (商港法) and the Law of Ships (船舶法) last month, the CGA can designate possible berthing areas or deny ports of call for vessels suspected of loitering around areas where undersea cables can be accessed, Oceans Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said. The list of suspected ships, originally 300, had risen to about
DAREDEVIL: Honnold said it had always been a dream of his to climb Taipei 101, while a Netflix producer said the skyscraper was ‘a real icon of this country’ US climber Alex Honnold yesterday took on Taiwan’s tallest building, becoming the first person to scale Taipei 101 without a rope, harness or safety net. Hundreds of spectators gathered at the base of the 101-story skyscraper to watch Honnold, 40, embark on his daredevil feat, which was also broadcast live on Netflix. Dressed in a red T-shirt and yellow custom-made climbing shoes, Honnold swiftly moved up the southeast face of the glass and steel building. At one point, he stepped onto a platform midway up to wave down at fans and onlookers who were taking photos. People watching from inside
Japan’s strategic alliance with the US would collapse if Tokyo were to turn away from a conflict in Taiwan, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said yesterday, but distanced herself from previous comments that suggested a possible military response in such an event. Takaichi expressed her latest views on a nationally broadcast TV program late on Monday, where an opposition party leader criticized her for igniting tensions with China with the earlier remarks. Ties between Japan and China have sunk to the worst level in years after Takaichi said in November that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan could bring about a Japanese
STREAMLINED: The dedicated funding would allow the US to transfer equipment to Taiwan when needed and order upgraded replacements for stockpiles, a source said The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a defense appropriations bill totaling US$838.7 billion, of which US$1 billion is to be allocated to reinforcing security cooperation with Taiwan and US$150 million to replace defense articles provided to the nation. These are part of the Consolidated Appropriation Act, which the US House yesterday passed with 341 votes in favor and 88 against. The act must be passed by the US Senate before Friday next week to avoid another government shutdown. The US House Committee on Appropriations on Monday unveiled the act, saying that it allocates US$1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative
RSS