The Taiwan Bubble Tea Festival was held in Rockville, Maryland, on Saturday, one of the largest events promoting Taiwanese culture in the greater Washington DC area. The event also featured booths representing Ukraine, Japan, Hong Kong and other communities.
Organized by Taiwan Sister Cities (TSC), it was the seventh edition of the festival, and showcased Taiwanese culture through bubble tea, traditional performances, authentic cuisine and family-friendly activities.
Deputy Representative to the US Yang Yi-shan (楊懿珊) and US Representative Jamie Raskin attended, with Yang even taking the stage to sing.
Photo: CNA
TSC president Ding Hung-bin (丁弘彬) said the festival was the largest and most diverse to date, featuring 40 booths, and was likely to surpass last year’s record attendance of 12,000 visitors.
The festival was more international than ever, with booths representing Ukraine, Hong Kong, Tibet, Japan and the Uyghur region, Ding said, adding that visitors could get to know Taiwan’s allies as well as Taiwan itself.
Performances and exhibitions showed Taiwan as a friendly nation, he said, adding that they highlighted Taiwanese as good neighbors who share common values.
At the Ukraine booth, manager Daryna Maksymova cited the importance of her country’s victory in its war with Russia for Europe and the wider world.
“If Ukraine wins, it sends a positive signal to the world for democracy and freedom,” Maksymova said. “If Ukraine loses, many countries, including Taiwan, could face risks.”
“We stand united with Taiwan, holding our position for a free and independent world,” she said.
The booth was organized by United Help Ukraine, a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian supplies, tactical medicine and medical aid to Ukraine.
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