On the morning of November 28, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by American Legion National Commander James LaCoursiere. In remarks, President Lai thanked the American Legion for making significant contributions to advancing United States veterans policies and for its long support of Taiwan-US exchanges and cooperation, helping deepen our bilateral partnership. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and the US will continue to have close interactions in veterans affairs and further bolster security cooperation to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region and around the world.

A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:

I would like to begin by congratulating Mr. LaCoursiere on his election at the end of this August as national commander of the American Legion. The fact that he is leading a delegation to Taiwan so soon after assuming office underscores the importance he places on the Taiwan-US friendship. I extend my sincere gratitude and a warm welcome to you all.

Allow me to take this opportunity to also express special appreciation to the American Legion. In addition to making significant contributions to advancing US veterans policies, it has long supported Taiwan-US exchanges and cooperation, helping deepen our bilateral partnership. Thanks to the diligence of the American Legion, the US government is showing that it attaches great importance to its veterans, offering them comprehensive care and a variety of services. Taiwan has learned much from its example.

In Taiwan, we also place importance on our veterans. We thank them for their contributions to protecting our homeland, and we hope to provide them with even better care, through the central and local governments alike. During my tenure as Tainan City mayor, I promoted the relocation of Tainan Veterans Home. The home was moved closer to the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital Tainan Branch, giving veterans more convenience in their daily lives and in access to healthcare services. Our Veterans Affairs Council (VAC) is now moving forward with integration of smart medicine and telemedicine and has established a more extensive medical service network to provide more comprehensive and timely care for veterans.

I hope that through this visit, Taiwan can learn more from the experience of the US as we adopt better practices in caring for our veterans. I also hope that with the support of National Commander LaCoursiere, Taiwan and the US will continue to have close interactions in veterans affairs and further bolster security cooperation to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region and around the world. I wish you a productive trip and welcome you to visit Taiwan often.

National Commander LaCoursiere then delivered remarks, saying that many of his predecessors have met here with President Lai’s predecessors and that the American Legion has had a special relationship with the veterans of the Republic of China for decades.

National Commander LaCoursiere remarked that Taiwan understands the importance of vigilance and military strength in defending and protecting freedom, underscoring that these traits are rare and needed in today’s tumultuous world. Survival and success, he said, define the history of Taiwan, which has become an inspiration for any nation that lives under the looming threat of invasion by aggressive powers who have little regard for human rights. He then quoted the 19th century American statesman and orator Daniel Webster, who said, “Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraint; the more restraint on others to keep off from us, the more liberty we have,” saying he believes that quote sums up the people of Taiwan.

National Commander LaCoursiere said that Americans enjoy freedom, but added that he does not think in recent generations they have felt that it has been threatened nearly as much as what the people of Taiwan have had to experience every day from the aggressive acts and rhetoric of a neighboring country. That threat, he underlined, makes one appreciate freedom even more, and it also nurtures a greater appreciation for the veterans who have sworn to defend freedom.

National Commander LaCoursiere pointed out that the American Legion and the VAC recognize that the well-being of veterans is an essential component to any sound defense policy to defend a nation. He said that the men and women in the military who provide security are willing to sacrifice their lives for their nation and its people, stressing that the contributions of these veterans and their families should be cherished. He noted that the American Legion and the people of Taiwan have a common goal – to carry the legacy forward of our men and women in the military. In closing, he thanked President Lai and his administration for hosting them here.

Accompanied by the Minister of the Veterans Affairs Council, Feng Shikuan, the delegation visited the Presidential Office, where Secretary-General of the National Security Council, David Lee, was also present.

President Tsai welcomed Commander Clark, saying, "Your visit symbolizes our diverse cooperation with the United States and reflects our appreciation for veterans."

The President mentioned the comprehensive services provided by AMVETS to veterans and highlighted Taiwan's efforts to enhance veterans' employment competitiveness and improve the quality of medical services. Taiwan's Veterans Affairs Council actively develops smart medical care and promotes telemedicine, making medical care more convenient for veterans.

In his speech, Commander Clark expressed his long-standing support for Taiwan through AMVETS and pledged continued support in the future.

On that afternoon, Commander Clark visited the Veterans Affairs Council, where the Minister delivered a speech. The Minister stated that the council has established service facilities, nursing homes, and veterans' medical institutions in various counties and cities, carrying out the work of counseling veterans on employment, living arrangements, medical treatment, education, and general care. The primary mission of the council is to ensure the well-being of veterans. The Minister also awarded the Veterans Affairs Council's honorary medal to Commander Clark, praising his efforts in promoting friendship between the two associations and his dedication to understanding and discussing bilateral measures for the care of veterans, leaving no stone unturned.

Last August, Secretary-General Chien represented the Veterans Affairs Council at AMVETS annual convention and received warm hospitality from Commander Clark. Their meeting in Taipei this time was marked by great joy.

Commander Clark then visited Taipei Veterans General Hospital and Hsinchu Veterans Home, leaving a deep impression at both places.

Vice Minister Wu and Wang Kai-Heng, Deputy Director of the Service and Care Department, arrived in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, on July 21. The following day, they attended the Welcome Banquet held by the ROC Veterans Association in Phoenix and the Chief of the Veterans Affairs Division in the USA, Ni Bang-Chen, and Secretary Cheng Guo-Feng. During the banquet, Vice Minister Wu presented a certificate of appreciation to Chairman Wang, thanking him for assisting the government in promoting international relations. He also expressed greetings and gratitude on behalf of the Minister of the Veterans Affairs Council, Kent Feng, to the members of the ROC Veterans Association in Phoenix for their efforts and contributions to the overseas Chinese community.

On July 23, Vice Minister Wu attended the National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee's meeting of the veterans of foreign wars of the U.S. During the meeting, he expressed gratitude for the committee's continuous support for Taiwan through resolutions, which conveyed the United States' unwavering support for the Republic of China, Taiwan.

The VFW National Convention was held in Phoenix, featuring President Tsai's pre-recorded video. In her speech, President Tsai thanked American society and the current government for enhancing Taiwan's self-defense capabilities. She also emphasized Taiwan's commitment to supporting freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.

During the convention, the VAC and the VFW renewed the brotherhood alliance. Vice Minister Wu and Commander-in-Chief Borland presented a joint proclamation. Vice Minister Wu also presented the medal of honor of the VAC to Commander Borland in recognition of his efforts to promote bilateral cooperation and exchange between as well as advancing international justice and promoting veterans' welfare.

After the convention, Vice Minister Wu went to Needles City in California. He met with Mayor Janet Jernigan and city councilors and showed gratitude for the city's strong support for the Republic of China, Taiwan, over the past fifty years. He also presented a certificate of appreciation to the city's first Chinese-American councilor, Mr. Robert Yee, for his longstanding support and participation in Double-Ten Day flag-raising ceremony.

Commander Fores has served in every leadership position in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States as Post 124 Commander, District 7 Commander Philippines and as Surgeon, Department of Pacific Areas. He served both in the US Air Force and the United States Army from Dec 1980 to December 2004.

The Minister mentioned that the VAC and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs play similar roles in coordinating and providing services for veterans, including employment, care, medical treatment, education, and general service care. VAC establish service agencies, long-term care facilities, and veterans' medical institutions in various counties and cities, all in line with the idea of ensuring that veterans "have opportunities when they're strong, receive medical care when they're ill, and are cared for in their old age." The Minister also pointed out that the VAC and DPA have a long history of exchange and a deep friendship. He hopes that through the visit, the DPA Commander, Mr. Fores, can gain a better understanding of how ROC’s veteran support system operates.

The Minister Feng also presented the medals of honor to Commander Fores of the VFW Department Pacific Area and former Post Commdner, Mr. Scott Ellinge, commending their dedication to fostering friendship between the two organizations and their commitment to provide care for veterans. Deputy Minister Lee, Vice Minister Wu, Secretary-General Jian and relevant department Directors f were present to witness the ceremony.

On May 15th, President Tsai met with Roland, the Commander-in-Chief of The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. In her speech, President Tsai pointed out that since last year, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States has established a veterans' affairs unit. The VAC has also sent representatives to Washington, D.C. We hope it will enhance veterans' welfare from both sides and bring about more profound and broader exchanges between the two countries.

Minister Feng accompanied the guests to meet with President Tsai. President Tsai mentioned in her speech that the VFW has close ties with the Veterans Affairs Council, ROC and also has a brotherhood relationship with VAC. Over the years, both sides have actively promoted exchanges through various actions. She expressed her pleasure that after the global pandemic improved, Commander-in-Chief Borland and Executive Director Gallucci could visit Taiwan and work together to enhance the relationship between Taiwan and the USA.

Commander Borland mentioned that he was honored to visit Taiwan. It is also the first time to visit since 2019. As a veteran with twenty-eight years of experience and the fourth generation of his family and as the Commander-in-Chief of the VFW, he promised President Tsai to continue close cooperation with Taiwan. Commander Borland mentioned that the VFW would hold its national convention in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, and he hopes to invite President Tsai to deliver a short video speech to let everyone understand how closely the two countries can cooperate and protect each other's needs.

On the same day, Commander Borland also visited the VAC. Minister Feng expressed a sincere welcome and hoped that the VFW would continue to maintain contact and communication with the VAC to contribute to veterans' affairs together.

Minister Feng presented the Medal of Honor to Commander-in-Chief Borland and recognized his contributions to promoting friendship between the two organizations. Commander Borland presented Minister Feng with a challenging coin in return and emphasized the commitment of both associations to care for veterans' welfare.

The 14 students and their family members who visited this time are from six countries: Belize, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, Chile and Argentina accompanied by the Executive Colonel Zheng, Liaison Officers and the interpreter. The visiting ended successfully after Minister Feng presented VAC commemorative coins to each visitor and the visitors gave back various souvenirs in return.

Minister Feng said VAC built a bilateral relationship with The Returned & Services League of Australia in 1981 and sent representatives to attend the 100-anniversary national convention in 2016. VAC also expects to enhance the exchange and cooperation on the basis of an excellent relationship to improve veterans’ welfare through learning from the experience of caring for veterans each other.

Ms. Jenny Bloomfield admires what VAC has done for veterans. She said Australia, Taiwan’s important business partner, is also the hot spot for tours, studying abroad, and working holidays. Ms. Jenny Bloomfield also said she would be delighted if Taiwan and Australia’s veterans-related organizations could mutually exchange and cooperate.

Minister Feng appreciates that Ms. Jenny Bloomfield visited VAC today. He will soon visit the Australian Office in Taipei to facilitate the exchange between Taiwan and Australia.

President Tsai received the visiting delegation of American Veterans(AMVETS), hoping to continue to enhance exchanges between Taiwan and the United States.

When President Tsai Ing-wen received a visiting delegation from the AMVETS today, she said that over the past few years, the interaction between Taiwan and the United States has become closer and closer, also the economic and trade ties; she looks forward to continuing exchanges between Taiwan and the United States on veterans affairs.

President Tsai, accompanied by Secretary-General Gu of the National Security Council and Minister Feng of the Veterans Affairs Council, to receive the visiting Commander of the AMVETS, Donald McLean, and Mrs. McLean in the afternoon at the Presidential Palace. The President said that the AMVETS has more than 30 years of friendship with the VAC and was very happy to host good friends from the AMVETS again after the epidemic.

President Tsai thanked the AMVETS for having passed many resolutions to support Taiwan, deepening exchanges with the U.S. government, and also speaking out for Taiwan on international occasions. President also thanks for the long-term support from AMVETS.

She said that through exchanges with the AMVETS, the VAC has also continued to improve various policies to provide better services for veterans. In recent years, the VAC has actively cooperated and exchanged with universities, colleges, and enterprises to assist veterans in their education and employment. At the same time, the VAC is also committed to improving the medical services in Veterans' Home. Now that Veterans General Hospitals have cooperated with Veterans Homes to build a long-distance medical care network.

The President said she understood that the McLean couple visited Taipei Veterans General Hospital and other institutions this time. She believed that by sharing of experience, the two sides would take care of veterans more appropriately. The interaction between Taiwan and the United States has become closer and closer over the past few years; the U.S. Congress also has passed various bills to help Taiwan strengthen its self-defense capabilities and deepen economic and trade ties between the two countries.

The President looks forward to the continued strengthening of exchanges between Taiwan and the United States on veterans affairs and wishes Commander McLean a successful visit.

Minister Feng delivered a speech and described the historical background that ROC veterans experienced during the Northern Expedition and Anti-Japanese War. There was also a briefing about the mission of VAC, which is serving and taking care of veterans, assisting veterans in obtaining education and employment, career training, medical care, health services, home care, and other general services.

After the briefing, guests actively asked many questions about the challenge of taking care of veterans, such as veterans' employment and training, education subsidies, and insufficient staff problem in nursing homes. Minister Feng answered all questions one by one. Guests admire VAC for what we have done for veterans.

After a one-hour conversation, Minister Feng presented VAC metal coins as souvenirs to the delegation.

 
War is always cruel and unnecessary. We should do our best to promote freedom and maintain it. Historic mistakes might be forgiven, but lessons of history shouldn’t be forgotten. The essential purpose of holding annual memorial events is to remind us that wars are savage and brutal and never let cruel history happen again. Minister Feng mentioned above in the speech.

Kinkaseki POW Camp was the first POW camp created by Japan army in the north of Taiwan during wartime. The environment of the camp was terrible. Prisoners of the Allies were forced to do mining jobs to supply coopers for Japan army.
 

In the following days, Deputy Minister Lee and his party visited the ROC Veterans Association in Washington, New Jersey, and Chicago and also stopped by the ROC Veteran Association in New York to learn about its reorganization. Deputy Minister Lee also expressed his care to the Honor Citizens living abroad on behalf of Minister Feng, and visited the centenarian Mr. Zhang, a retired Air Force non-commissioned officer, also a veteran of the Banqiao Veterans Home, living in Flushing, New York, now.

Deputy Minister Lee also visited the Congressional Office of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Washington DC on the morning of the 22nd and was warmly received by Director Wallace of the office and his colleagues.

Deputy Minister Lee and his party then attended the National Convention 2022 of the American Legion (AL) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 30 and delivered a speech on behalf of Minister Feng at the Joint Opening Meeting. He then presented National Commander Dillard VAC Medal of Honor, first-class, on behalf of Minister Feng in recognition of his significant contributions to the exchanges between the two associations.

VFW, the first established veteran's organization in U.S.A., is the second largest veteran organization in America. The VAC established the brotherhood relation with VFW in 1980 and continued the exchange for over 60 years. The VAC could not participate in the national convention due to the rampage of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Instead, Minister Feng conveyed his sincere gratitude through the prerecorded video. It is our first time to attend the VFW National Convention after the pandemic.

After participating in the Convention, Vice Minister Wu went to Fort Benning Main Post Cemetery in Georgia to mourn our five air force martyrs who died during training and were buried in a foreign land 80 years ago. He said that R.O.C. would never forget the people who died for their country on battlefield.  

Vice Minister Wu also visited the ROC Overseas Associations in Huston, Atlanta, and Dallas to express his gratitude for their contribution to diplomacy. He stated that the government’s position in caring for overseas veterans would never change and hoped the associations could support the government in return.

Minister Feng, Deputy Minister Li, Vice Minister Wu, along with other Directors of VAC, visited the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall on April 28. They bowed to the bronze statue of former President Chiang Kai-shek to express their deep regards with solemn on behalf of all the Honorable Citizens.

The Management Office of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall arranged Dr. Huang Tzu-Chin, a research fellow of Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica, who is an expert in the field of the history of modern Sino-Japanese relations, to give a guided tour, detailing Former President Chiang’s historical achievements in leading the KMT government's Northern Expedition, the Anti-Japanese War, and the Chinese Civil War, so that the visitors can have a good understanding of the history of the early Republic of China. Making them get better understanding on the social turmoil and the construction of the country as well as Former President Chiang’s contribution to the times.

Envoys to ROC enjoying the special exhibition of the Blue-and-White Porcelain with Chinese Landscape Paintings

Minister Feng and colleagues from VAC then visited the "Solo Exhibition – Anne Cho’s Blue-and-White Porcelain with Chinese Landscape Paintings" held in the First Exhibition Hall of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, and invited several envoys to R.O.C., including AIT’s Director, Sandra Oudkirk, Jordan Reeves, the representative of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, and Representative Yip Wei Kiat from Singapore, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office, the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Chief Amano, and President of the Taiwan POW Memorial Association, Michael Hurst, enjoyed the special exhibition of art and culture together.

There were about 130 pieces of Blue-and-White Porcelain and 50 pieces of Chinese Landscape Paintings in the exhibition. Ms. Cho, the artist, introduced to the distinguished guests every piece created by her, expressing their different artistic conceptions and unique aesthetics. All the participants spoke highly of her works. By sharing the cultural appreciation, the friendship among participants deepened indeed.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 13, 2022) – Legendary ROC Air Force Pilot Captain John Angle Chu celebrated his 100th birthday on April 4, 2022. Chu was joined in celebration by director of TECRO’s Veterans Affairs Division Julio Ni, director-general of TECO in San Francisco Scott Lai, Air Force Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Wu, the ROC Air Force Association in North California and Taiwanese American community leaders in the Bay Area.

Chu was born in Oakland, California, as a second-generation Chinese immigrant. In 1939, he volunteered to go to China and fight against the Imperial Japanese invaders. With the help of oversea Chinese communities, Chu made his way through Hawaii to Kunming to join the ROC Air Force Academy as the youngest pilot of the 11th class. He fought in many air combats from 1941 to 1945. During the Chinese Civil War, he was shot down and captured by the Chinese Communist Party. After his release, he applied for discharge in order to go back to the United States, but he only received the certificate “Duty Suspended,” meaning he is technically still considered active, so he is also nicknamed “the Forever Captain”

In 1999, Chu was received by President Bill Clinton to recognize the contributions made by Chinese Americans during World War II. Chu said he was willing to sacrifice the primes of his life for his mother nation and the hope of world peace: “I am flying for freedom.”