Taiwan to send group to salute victims of Sept. 11

To show the sympathy of Taiwan's private sector for those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) announced yesterday that a delegation of singers and musicians will visit New York and Washington to perform in festivities marking the first anniversary of the incident.

"The `Taiwan Salutes' delegation shoulders much responsibility, because apart from Sept. 11-related activities, it will also perform near the UN, which is also meaningful," Lu said.

The delegation is scheduled to perform in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, one block from UN headquarters.

The vice president told the Taipei Times yesterday that the delegation was originally to be led by First Lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍), but as she is ill, the plan had to be changed.

But the government continues to work on arrangements for the first lady to visit the US later in the month.

On Sept. 19, Wu is scheduled to travel to New York, Washington and Los Angeles to visit with legislators, George W. Bush administration officials and overseas Chinese groups.

The visit is seen as another breakthrough for the Chen administration, as there will be no restrictions on her movements or public appearances.

Lu said that while arranging for the first lady's visit, she found that one of the reasons Taiwan was not initially invited to attend Sept. 11 memorial events was that the foreign ministry failed to adequately publicize the fact that Taiwan has made a major contribution to America's anti-terror campaign over the past year.

"The `Taiwan Salutes' tour to the US is an excellent opportunity to exert Taiwan's soft power, which combines the strength and resources from both the government and the private sector to show Taiwan's concern for the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks," she said.

The 288-member delegation of "Taiwan Salutes" was organized by Taiwan Heart, a local think tank, and is composed of members of the Formosa Youth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Ouyang Hui-Chen Dance Company and the Taiwan Multiculture and Arts Group. It was invited by the Pacific Community Institute, the Taiwanese American Council of Greater NY and the Committee for the Administration of Taiwan to the UN.

The vice president said at the press conference that the delegation's US visit, on the eve of the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, symbolized peace and love from Taiwan.

"In the past year, Taiwan stood side by side with the US in healing the wounds of the attacks and in the anti-terror campaign.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) reaffirmed the government's support for US' anti-terror actions at a departure ceremony for "Taiwan Salutes."

Meanwhile in New York, the Taiwan Association in the greater New York area took part in an international cultural parade Sunday despite protests from China.

This was the first time in more than a decade that the association mobilized major Taiwanese groups in the greater New York area to participate in the annual international cultural parade in Manhattan. Taiwan was forced out of the non-political activity over 10 years ago because of China's opposition.

This year, organizers again invited the association to join the parade to signify universal support for ethnic harmony on the eve of the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

China complained after learning of Taiwan's participation. It later demanded that Taiwan groups trail behind its troupes. The Taiwan association rejected China's demand. After difficult negotiations, Taiwan's order in the parade was determined using the English letter "F" as the country is also known as Formosa. As a result, Taiwan participants appeared between Ethiopian and Greek parades.