President Tsai participates in 2nd Annual Taiwanese American Film Festival panel discussion
While transiting in Los Angeles on her way to state visits to Paraguay and Belize, President Tsai Ing-wen took part in a post-event panel discussion on the 2nd Annual Taiwanese American Film Festival (TAFF). The proceedings got underway at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 13 local time (5:00 a.m. August 14 Taipei time).
After arriving at the Downtown Independent theater, President Tsai first watched a trailer from the 2nd TAFF, then listened to a briefing on activities and results of the film festival by TAFF Marketing Director Lien Chen (陳廉方).
Ms. Chen, TAFF Executive Director Anthony Ma (馬佳孝), and TAFF Festival Director Roxy Shih (施惠馨) then spoke with President Tsai about how the Taiwanese American Professionals of Los Angeles had come to launch the film festival.
When asked by a panelist what the term "Taiwanese-American culture" means, President Tsai said that all Taiwanese who have lived in the United States for an extended period can be called "Taiwanese-Americans," and their expressions and the way they talk are all manifestations of Taiwanese-American culture. What will Taiwanese-Americans do? What do they want to do? What can they do? What are their goals? These things are all part of Taiwanese-American culture, said the president, adding that she believes that everyone shares a consensus about wanting to connect Taiwan and the United States.
Asked about what the film industry and government can do to help each other, President Tsai responded that she will ask the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, and the Taiwan Academy to look into this question. Once they come up with answers, she will instruct the Executive Yuan, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, the OCAC, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to do everything possible to achieve their goals.
Finally, President Tsai and the panelists posed for group selfies in a friendly and festive atmosphere. Also attending the event were American Institute in Taiwan Chairman James Moriarty, National Security Council Secretary-General David T. Lee (李大維), Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), and OCAC Minister Wu Hsin-hsing (吳新興).