The annual “Summer Gathering of Taiwanese Americans in the Western United States” and the 46th annual conference of the “North American Taiwanese Professors’ Association (NATPA)” in 2026 took place from July 10th to 12th at the Crowne Plaza San Diego, lasting three days and two nights.
This year’s conference focused on the theme “Intelligent Leading the Future, Innovatively Connecting Generations,” attracting approximately three hundred overseas Taiwanese leaders, scholars, and youth from across the western United States. The conference highlighted trends in AI technology and intergenerational dialogue, showcasing the strong cohesion of Taiwanese Americans overseas who excel in technology, value cultural heritage, and remain connected to Taiwan.
The summer gathering was organized by Yeh Ying-ching, commissioner of the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission in San Diego and also the president of NATPA. The organizing team, consisting of Chen Mei-hsiu, Chang Hui-chuan, Du Wu-ching, and Lin Yu-ying, dedicated two months to preparing for the event with great effort to ensure its successful completion.
Yeh Ying-ching mentioned that this year’s summer gathering in the western United States collaborated with NATPA. Although both entities maintained independent planning, through the integration of some agenda items, the rich academic resources of the professors’ association were successfully brought into the gathering. Yeh Ying-ching emphasized the desire for participants to gain knowledge in AI and understand the impact it will have on life and society, enabling overseas Taiwanese Americans to keep pace with the development of AI and achieve innovative connections in technology and generations.
The event commenced with a grand opening ceremony on the morning of the 11th. President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Mei-chin, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung recorded special videos to send sincere congratulations to the summer gathering in the western United States and the annual conference of NATPA. Representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles and federal congressman Ted Lieu also sent their best wishes, acknowledging the outstanding contributions of the Taiwanese American community to promoting Taiwan-US relations.
Commissioner Hsu Chia-ching personally flew to San Diego to attend the conference. Yeh Ying-ching expressed gratitude for Hsu Chia-ching’s visit and immediate arrangement of relevant services to encourage compatriots and listen to the suggestions of overseas Taiwanese Americans, considering it an honor for the team. She also acknowledged the significant transformation and inclusiveness shown by the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Commission in recent years, which has led to increased engagement and open communication within the Taiwanese American community.
In addition to the focus on technology issues, a highlight of this year’s summer gathering was the addition of a special lecture on “Societal Resilience in Taiwan Policy.”
Yeh Ying-ching emotionally expressed, “While we live and work in the United States, our hearts are always tied to Taiwan, and we hope that when Taiwan needs us, we can contribute our efforts.”
To ensure attendees benefit substantially, the conference deviated from the usual format of short speeches lasting 15 to 20 minutes by offering a two-hour precise course. It invited two experts to share ideas and conduct tabletop exercises, aiding Taiwanese Americans in preparing for and responding to emergency situations, thereby translating concerns for their homeland into concrete actions.
To warm up before the formal sessions, the first night of the event hosted a “Night Talk” led by Lin Yu-tzu, providing an opportunity for recently arrived Taiwanese speakers and attendees from distant locations to engage face-to-face in a relaxed atmosphere and discuss common topics of interest. The primary purpose of the night talk, as noted by Lin Yu-tzu, was to establish a platform for exchange and deepen friendships between Taiwanese Americans from out-of-state and overseas before the intensive forums, promoting collective concern for Taiwan’s future development.
On the evening of the 11th, “Taiwan Night” was also arranged, integrating art and human warmth into this annual event that merges technological foresight, political dialogue, societal resilience, and cultural heritage. The organizers hope that through this intergenerational and cross-regional platform, deeper bonds within the overseas Taiwanese community can be formed, injecting indispensable new vitality into the transmission of Taiwanese culture, tradition, and history in the United States.