San Jose, the third-largest city in California, officially proclaimed Oct. 25 to be “Republic of China Day,” recognizing the Taiwanese American community’s lasting contributions to the city’s cultural and economic life. Taiwan’s official name is the Republic of China.
Decades of Friendship
The proclamation—jointly signed by Mahan and all city council members—commemorates the longstanding ties between San Jose and Tainan, Taiwan, which became sister cities in 1977. It also honors the efforts of the Sino American Heritage Foundation in restoring the Chinese Cultural Garden in Overfelt Gardens Park. The garden is a local landmark built in the 1970s through donations from Taiwan.Wu said it was an honor for him to witness San Jose’s official recognition of Republic of China Day.
“On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I express our heartfelt gratitude for this meaningful recognition,” Wu said. “Taiwanese Americans have long contributed to the cultural, technological, and economic vitality of San Jose and the greater Bay Area. This proclamation reconfirms the deep bonds of our peoples, united by shared values of freedom, human rights, and democracy.”
A Symbol of Shared Values
Councilmember Peter Ortiz, who initiated the proclamation, described the effort as a tribute to the Taiwanese community’s spirit and achievements.“Let us honor this day to the strength of the community of Taiwanese people, their resilience, democracy, and innovation, and look for the future of continued peace, prosperity, and friendship between our two countries,” he said before the mayor presented the proclamation.
Ortiz said the Chinese Cultural Garden, located in his district, is an important reminder of the local Taiwanese community’s historical role in the city.
“We need to make sure that the city of San Jose is recognizing the many contributions of the Taiwanese people to the city, and the city of San Jose respects them,” Ortiz said.
Community Pride
David Lin, chairman of the Sino American Heritage Foundation, expressed his appreciation for San Jose’s recognition, noting that for the first time in decades, the flag of Taiwan would be raised alongside the U.S. flag in front of San Jose City Hall for one week.“It’s a great honor for our community,” Lin said.
Sophia Chuang, director of the TECO Culture Center in Milpitas, told The Epoch Times that the proclamation represents the culmination of years of effort by the Taiwanese community and “a further step forward in Taiwan-U.S. relations.”
Former Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce President Joe Chou spoke about Taiwan’s close relationship with San Jose, including Taiwan’s assistance during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the chamber donated 30,000 masks to then-Mayor Sam Liccardo.
“Even after Mayor Liccardo left office and was elected to Congress, the relationship between the Taiwanese community and the city has remained strong,” Chou said.
San Jose is the 12th-largest city in the United States and is home to major global technology firms, including Adobe, Cisco, eBay, PayPal, and Zoom.
Tainan is the fourth-largest city in Taiwan and was formerly its capital.
