On May 2, at the Office of the President, President Chen Shui-bian conferred upon director Ang Lee the second-class Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon and praised him for his artistic and cinematic achievements.
After receiving the medal, director Ang Lee said he would like to dedicate the honor to his father resting in heaven.
Director Ang Lee said in his remarks delivered after the presentation ceremony that the notion of "founding Taiwan upon culture," a principle brought up by the president, was the force driving him when staying overseas. "This idea is so fundamental that it allows us to stand with other people in the world and share different cultural characteristics with each other," he said.
"The force of culture knows no national boundaries," he added, and emphasized that his own force of culture comes from Taiwan and is now fermenting and disseminating.
He also added that, facing challenges of globalization and Anglo-American movie industries, everyone in the world should find their own ways to respond to the invasion of Hollywood culture. "While reaching out to the world with our culture, we should have the root of it remain here in Taiwan," concluded the director.
Director Ang Lee's family members also attended the conferral ceremony and shared the pride and honor.