Taipei, June 21 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian presented an award of thanks to former American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairwoman Therese Shaheen Monday in recognition of her contributions to promoting Taipei-Washington ties during her time as the top AIT officer.
In a ceremony held at the Presidential Office, Chen decorated Shaheen with the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon, a special honor offered by the Republic of China government to foreign citizens who have contributed to its national cause.
Chen lauded Shaheen as one of Taiwan's best friends and a beautiful guardian angel of the people of Taiwan.
Noting that Taiwan-U.S. relations are as "sumptuous and delicious" as "tsungtzu" -- glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves which are eaten as part of the Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, Chen said Shaheen had helped enrich substantive Taiwan-U.S. ties just like "putting tasty ingredients into tsungtzu."
As Taiwan and the United States do not maintain formal diplomatic ties, Chen said, their relations are "like tsungtzu to be wrapped in bamboo leaves." "Although we can't see tsungtzus' ingredients from the outside, they are delectable foods. Shaheen's greatest contribution is to feed Taiwan-U.S. ties with rich and delightful elements so that our relations have become even closer and more cordial," Chen explained.
During Shaheen's tenure as the top U.S. liaison officer with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, Chen said, Shaheen had offered much assistance to Taiwan.
Chen recalled that during his transit stops in New York and Alaska last year, Shaheen accompanied him throughout his stay. "Shaheen's personal charm, kindness and hospitality had injected vitality and exuberance into traditional Taiwan-U.S. interaction," he added.
Shaheen resigned from the AIT chairmanship in April. "Although Shaheen has left public service, I'm convinced that she'll continue to be active in the U.S. political and business arenas. I hope she will continue to use her clout to speak for Taiwan's cause of safeguarding its liberal democracy and to help Taiwan win more support and assistance from various U.S. social quarters," Chen said.
For her part, Shaheen said she had learned a lot during her AIT stint. One of the things was that she came to learn that Taiwan has "good shepherds, " Shaheen said, adding she believes that good shepherds will lead the herd toward the right direction.
Shaheen further said Taiwan people's courage has inspired her to have even greater courage. In her view, she said, it's a special gift to be able to inspire other people. The people of Taiwan have this gift, she added. If the world were an oyster, she said, Taiwan would be its most brilliant pearl.