On July 4, 2024, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Lai Ching-te, awarded Sandra Oudkirk, the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Taipei Office, with the “Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon” in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the Taiwan-US relationship. President Lai expressed his hope that in the future, Director Oudkirk will continue to support Taiwan, promote Taiwan-US cooperation, and further enhance the development between the two countries.
President Lai, in his speech, expressed his joy in representing the government and people of the Republic of China to confer the “Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon” to Director Oudkirk, acknowledging her remarkable contributions to the Taiwan-US relationship. He mentioned Oudkirk’s deep connection with Taiwan, highlighting her achievements in enhancing Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities, strengthening economic ties between Taiwan and the US, facilitating Taiwan’s participation in international affairs, and further advancing the already strong Taiwan-US relationship.
President Lai stated that under Director Oudkirk’s leadership, the Biden administration has announced 15 rounds of arms sales to Taiwan, and facilitated congressional support through mechanisms such as “presidential notification” and “foreign military financing” to enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities. In terms of economic and trade cooperation, Taiwan and the US have completed the initial agreement of the “Taiwan-US 21st Century Trade Initiative” and are currently engaging in negotiations for the second phase, positioning Taiwan in the global industrial chain restructuring and playing a crucial role in Taiwan’s future economic prosperity on the international stage.
President Lai praised Oudkirk for her efforts to expand Taiwan’s international presence, especially in supporting Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly and various international activities, allowing Taiwan to contribute more to global public health efforts. He highlighted the recent donation of millions of vaccine doses from the US to Taiwan during the pandemic as a testament to the strong Taiwan-US relationship fostered under Oudkirk’s leadership.
President Lai expressed his reluctance to see Director Oudkirk’s term come to an end, emphasizing his hope that she will continue to uphold her support for Taiwan in any future roles and further promote Taiwan-US cooperation for the betterment of both nations. He extended warm wishes for Oudkirk’s well-being and encouraged her to visit Taiwan often to enjoy her favorite pepper cakes.
In her acceptance speech, Director Sandra Oudkirk expressed her honor in receiving the “Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon.” She reflected on her 30-year career and the achievements made in enhancing the solid partnership between Taiwan and the US during her tenure at AIT, something she could not have imagined when she embarked on her diplomatic journey three decades ago. Oudkirk acknowledged the shared values of freedom, openness, and democracy that form the foundation of the Taiwan-US relationship, emphasizing that despite global complexities, US support for Taiwan remains robust and bipartisan.
Oudkirk thanked President Lai for recognizing the four key work objectives she set upon assuming her position, attributing the achievements not to individual efforts but to the collaborative work of the AIT team and partner organizations, such as American schools, the American Club Taipei, and the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange. She expressed pride in the accomplishments made by both the US and Taiwan and expressed confidence in the enduring partnership between the two nations.
Throughout her speech, Oudkirk highlighted the mutual respect and cooperation that characterized the relationship between the US and Taiwan, underscoring the bright future ahead for both countries. She expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality and kindness shown to her during her time in Taiwan, noting that the experience had profoundly impacted her and made her a better person.
Among the attendees at the event were Deputy Director of AIT Taipei Office, Jeremy Cornforth, Agricultural Division Chief, Erich Kuss, Political Division Chief, Richard Jao, as well as Vice President of the Republic of China, Xiao Meiqin, Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, Pan Meng-an, Secretary-General of the National Security Council, Wu Zhaoxie, Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio, Yang Jenni, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Wu.