On the evening of May 4th, the San Francisco Giants baseball team faced off against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park in San Francisco, celebrating Taiwan Cultural Night. Wu Jixiang, the head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, donned a Giants jersey and personally threw the opening pitch at the game.
The Giants emerged victorious with a 3-2 win over the Padres. In the past five years, the Giants had struggled against the Padres with a record of 30 wins and 44 losses. However, on this night, the Giants players turned the tide amidst cheers from fans celebrating Taiwan Culture Night and showcased their dominance.
California has designated the month of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The San Francisco Giants chose to celebrate Taiwan culture on May 4th with the game, further promoting cultural exchange and understanding.
Prior to the game, our reporter learned that Wu Jixiang, a graduate of National Chengchi University in Taiwan, had been a member of the university’s baseball team. After graduation, he dedicated himself to promoting Taiwan’s diplomacy in Europe and America. On this particular evening, Wu, with a touch of silver in his hair, shed his suit for a baseball jersey, not only cheering for the Giants but also making a significant contribution to expanding Taiwan’s international presence and strengthening diplomatic ties.
The Taiwan Cultural Night event attracted numerous fans and individuals from Taiwan and the United States to witness the game. Song Shaowei, president of the San Francisco Film Association, who hails from Taiwan and migrated to the United States at the age of 8, expressed pride in his Taiwanese heritage and joy in reconnecting with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco. He stated his willingness to advocate for Taiwan.
Su Yuxin, a clarinetist in the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, born in Taipei and trained in music in Taiwan from a young age, highlighted the significance of baseball as a common language bridging Taiwan and the United States. She expressed delight in introducing Taiwan’s culture to American fans on such occasions.
Mark Chandler, director of the Office of International Trade at the Mayor’s Office in San Francisco and a longtime Giants fan, emphasized the importance of the team in representing the Taiwanese community in the Bay Area. He shared his enthusiasm for Taiwanese baseball and anticipated the participation of Taiwanese professional players in future events similar to this one.
Chandler noted the diverse exchanges between San Francisco and Taiwan in technology, commerce, culture, and the arts, which he hopes will serve as vital conduits for interaction between the two regions.
Guo Zongzheng, former vice chairman of the California Republican Party and a Taiwan native with a passion for baseball since childhood, commended the intrinsic connection between Taiwan and baseball. He specifically attended the game adorned in the controversial jacket featured in the movie “Top Gun,” bearing the flags of Japan and Taiwan. He raised awareness of Taiwan’s plight against China’s bullying on the international stage and expressed hope for increased showcasing of Taiwanese culture to the world.
Zhuang Yashu, director of the Napa Valley Chinese School, highlighted the cultural performances at the event, including the renowned Nezha dance and active participation by the Taiwanese Student Association at Braham High School in the organization of the game.
Liu Lingxia, a commissioner at the Overseas Community Affairs Council of Taiwan, expressed jubilation at Taiwan’s diplomatic representatives having the opportunity to showcase the country at the game and embraced the local community’s support.
Li Sixian, head of tourism affairs at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, emphasized baseball as Taiwan’s national sport and an outdoor activity, illustrating Taiwan’s appeal through tourism videos shown to fans during the game to attract them to visit Taiwan.
Huang Shiyun, president of the Northern California Taiwan Chamber of Commerce, lauded the global endeavors of Taiwan’s diplomats in promoting cultural exchange and showcasing the essence of Taiwanese culture to international societies, expressing delight at the Taiwanese beef noodle soup specially prepared for fans at the game.
Lin Wuxing, a pilot at EVA Air and a former player for the Chinatrust Brothers baseball team in Taiwan alongside Wu Jixiang during their university years, expressed his passion for baseball and traveling to watch games of all 30 Major League Baseball teams. Upon hearing of Wu’s ceremonial first pitch at the game, he flew in from Taiwan to cheer for his former teammate and rejoiced in his company’s involvement in sponsoring and participating in the event.