Remarks by AIT Director William A. Stanton AIT Kaohsiung Independence Day Reception July 1, 2010

Magistrate Su, CEO Lo, Vice Mayor Hong, honored guests:

Good evening!

On behalf of the American Institute in Taiwan and all of my colleagues serving in Taipei and Kaohsiung, welcome  to this very special celebration of America’s 234th birthday.  Tonight, we are pleased to feature the exceptional U.S. Navy 7th Fleet Band, under the direction of James Brownell, to share with you a medley of superb American music reflecting the dynamism, diversity and generosity of our nation’s spirit.

For over two hundred years, Americans have gathered together on this momentous holiday to celebrate the democracy and freedom for which our founding fathers fought so hard to achieve.  I am especially honored to be able to celebrate our July 4th in Tainan, which is so emblematic of Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage and whose own citizens played such an important role in the development of Taiwan’s democracy.

In many ways, Tainan is uniquely representative of the durability and vitality of U.S.-Taiwan ties.  Today, Tainan City Mayor Hsu is in the U.S. to exchange views on building a new, world-class medical clinic in Tainan.  Tainan County’s beloved Aiwen mangoes, which Tainan County Magistrate Su has worked so hard to promote, were introduced to Taiwan in 1961 under a U.S. assistance program and have become world famous thanks to the ingenuity, determination and industriousness of Tainan’s own talented farmers.  Tainan’s outstanding schools send hundreds of talented scholars to study abroad in the U.S. every year.       

Therefore, I’m not surprised that in my first year as AIT Director, I have been to southern Taiwan so many times, five times to be exact.  I am deeply grateful to the people of southern Taiwan for your devotion to U.S.-Taiwan friendship.  Your exceptional warmth and passion are essential to upholding our vigorous ties and the fundamental democratic values which all of our citizens deeply cherish.