Taiwanese Candidate Urges Local Leaders to Gain International Vision During US Visit

Democratic Progressive Party candidate for Miaoli County Magistrate, Chen Pin-an, recently delivered speeches at three significant Taiwanese American summer gatherings in the United States: the East Coast Taiwanese American Summer Conference, the Tri-State Area Joint Summer Conference, and the Western US Taiwanese American Summer Conference. Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American independence, her visit also included stops in Silicon Valley to engage with companies such as Micron Technology and explore innovation hubs.

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Local leaders must take care of local affairs and also possess an international vision to strive for more development opportunities for their regions.

Chen emphasized that in the face of rapid global technological advancements and geopolitical shifts, Taiwan must proactively engage with the world and grasp global trends. She stated that local leaders, while managing local affairs, must also cultivate an international perspective to secure greater development opportunities for their regions. Chen believes the spirit of "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" from the U.S. Declaration of Independence continues to influence many democratic nations, and governments have a responsibility to create fairer, freer systems that allow everyone to pursue happiness. This, she noted, is the core of her candidacy for county magistrate.

Highlighting the deepening US-Taiwan relations in areas like defense, societal resilience, and high-tech industries, Chen aimed to strengthen cooperation with overseas Taiwanese communities and industries. She noted that overseas Taiwanese are concerned about Taiwan's democratic challenges and the future of its high-tech sector amid global "non-red supply chain" trends. Chen pointed out Miaoli's geographical advantage, bordering the world's semiconductor hub, and President Lai Ching-te's "Greater Silicon Valley Plan" to connect Hsinchu and Miaoli into a complete semiconductor industry chain.

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The spirit of 'Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness'... continues to deeply influence many democratic countries, and the government has a responsibility to create a fairer, freer system so that everyone has the opportunity to bravely pursue their own happiness.

Chen argued that Miaoli risks missing industrial upgrades if it adheres to past governance models. She stressed the need to collaborate with the central government to improve the investment environment, attract businesses, and enhance Taiwan's high-tech industry's global competitiveness. Chen aspires to make Miaoli a city where everyone is free, equal, and shares happiness, advocating for cooperation with like-minded democratic nations to bring technology, talent, and investment back to the region.

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If Miaoli remains stuck in past governance models, it will miss the opportunity for industrial upgrading. Only by working with the central government to improve the investment environment can we increase incentives for businesses to set up in Miaoli and strengthen the international competitiveness of Taiwan's high-tech industry.