On the morning of December 10, President Tsai Ing-wen presented the 14th Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award to the Diplomacy Training Program and conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon on Mr. Carl Gershman, President of the US National Endowment for Democracy (NED). In remarks, President Tsai emphasized that safeguarding democracy is our responsibility and supporting democracy is our conviction. She also called on everyone to join hands and continue to work together for democracy, freedom, and human rights.
There are many countries and regions in our part of the world that are not yet on the path to democratization. And there are many people who seek democracy, freedom, and basic human rights, but are being oppressed and attacked by authoritarian governments.
For Taiwanese, even when democracy has become as natural as breathing, we cannot forget that safeguarding democracy is our responsibility, and supporting democracy is our conviction. As Taiwanese have shown, people can change history. When many people unite as one, they have a chance to change the course of history. So let's join hands and continue to work together for democracy, freedom, and human rights. Thank you.