The Annual Seatle Rotary Diplomacy Day at the Rainier Club featured May
Mei‑Chen Lin, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO)
in Seattle who provided an overview of Taiwanese Rotary work and the value of
Taiwan’s democracy to Washington State, the U.S. and the world.
Mei‑Chen Lin, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO)
in Seattle who provided an overview of Taiwanese Rotary work and the value of
Taiwan’s democracy to Washington State, the U.S. and the world.
The Seattle Consulate is regional covering Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montan and Alaska.
District 5030 Governor-Elect, Raymond ‘Ray’ Connell, provided reflections on
Rotary International’s recent convention in Taipei Diplomacy Day Task Force
Member, Paul Tsai, provided a brief overview of Diplomacy Day as he introduced
Director Lin as a career diplomat who will provide a clear-eyed assessment about
the road ahead and international order.
While her office provides services such as visa issuance, passport services,
document authentication, and assistance to Taiwanese nationals; her message
today was about the “elephant in the room” China.
District 5030 Governor-Elect, Raymond ‘Ray’ Connell, provided reflections on
Rotary International’s recent convention in Taipei Diplomacy Day Task Force
Member, Paul Tsai, provided a brief overview of Diplomacy Day as he introduced
Director Lin as a career diplomat who will provide a clear-eyed assessment about
the road ahead and international order.
While her office provides services such as visa issuance, passport services,
document authentication, and assistance to Taiwanese nationals; her message
today was about the “elephant in the room” China.
She did not mince words about the threat mainland China poses to Taiwan and the
importance of its democracy. She said Washington State is one of Tiawan’s top ten
foreign markets that has grown over more than 30 years of shared democratic
values.
“The international community must hold the line on China’s threat to Tiawan’s
democracy as it undermines the safety of our community and the world,” she
said. “Any threat to the Tiawan Strait will create a global economic emergency
that will severely impact Washington’s economy.”
“The challenge of China’s coercion is huge and real, so we want to connect
Tiawan internationally with all democracies around the world to work together
to help conquer the mammoth next door,” she said. “China does not follow
international rules with their manufacturing power and size which is a threat to
everyone.”
Tiawan internationally with all democracies around the world to work together
to help conquer the mammoth next door,” she said. “China does not follow
international rules with their manufacturing power and size which is a threat to
everyone.”
She clarified that although TECO offices are not formally designated as embassies,
they function as Taiwan’s de facto consulates in the United States. As Director
General, May Lin is Taiwan’s chief liaison to state and local governments in
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.
President John concluded the meeting by inviting Linda Rough and Rick Russell
to the podium for the days’ closing song, “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
-Thanks for this week's report, Pete!
