Taiwan Quick Take: Wang Chien-ming honored

Wang Chien-ming (王建民), the Taiwanese starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, was presented with an award from President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on Friday in recognition of his brilliant career in US Major League Baseball. Andrew Hsia (夏立言), director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, presented the award to Wang on Chen's behalf in an unprecedented ceremony at Yankee Stadium in New York in the presence of more than 50,000 baseball fans. It marked the first time a foreign country has ever been permitted to honor an outstanding baseball player at Yankee Stadium. The stadium's main billboard referred to Wang as "the Son of Taiwan." Hsia said that Wang's career achievement -- 19 wins for this season and also his first full season in the Major Leagues -- made him the pride of all Taiwanese people. "Wang is now the best spokesman for Taiwan," Hsia said.