On August 28th, a delegation from Taiwan’s Diplomatic Youth Ambassadors to the United States visited San Francisco and collectively met with the media at the Taipei Representative Office in San Francisco.
The “Diplomatic Youth Ambassadors” program in Taiwan was initiated in 2002 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education. Originally named the “English Seed Team Selection Activity,” the program aims to cultivate international perspectives and cross-cultural communication skills among high school and vocational school students in Taiwan. Through English public speaking, debates, and diplomatic simulation training, the younger generation is empowered to confidently express themselves on the international stage, conveying Taiwan’s values and stance.
Leading the delegation’s visit to the San Francisco Bay Area was Deputy Executive Director Chen Yijun of the Public Diplomacy Coordination Council at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to her, as of 2025, the Diplomatic Youth Ambassadors program has entered its 22nd edition. Over 2,500 schools and tens of thousands of youth have participated in selection and training. This year’s team of Diplomatic Youth Ambassadors visiting the United States is composed of 18 high school students, with 10 students and two teachers visiting the western United States.
Since losing its participation rights in the United Nations in 1971, Taiwan has been striving to expand its international influence and actively engage in global affairs. In recent years, Taiwan’s diplomatic efforts have focused on making the world see Taiwan more clearly and encouraging deeper international involvement with Taiwan.
With the recent changes in Sino-US relations, Taiwan-US relations are also evolving. In February of this year, the U.S. State Department removed its long-standing position of “not supporting Taiwan independence” on its official website and added hopes for the resolution of cross-strait differences in a way that is “not coerced and acceptable to both sides.”
When introducing the activities of the Diplomatic Youth Ambassadors’ visit to the United States, Chen Yijun mentioned that this year’s activities will focus on regions such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston. The itinerary includes visits to political, educational, and cultural institutions, as well as exchanges with local government, academia, industry, and overseas community leaders. The goal is to promote international connections, strengthen global dialogue, and showcase the international perspective and democratic values of Taiwan’s younger generation.
According to the official website of the “Diplomatic Youth Ambassadors” program, over the past twenty years, it has become a representative brand for Taiwan’s youth diplomacy.
The concrete impacts brought by this program include enhancing the voice of Taiwanese youth on international issues, building confidence in cross-cultural understanding and communication, and expanding Taiwan’s influence in overseas communities and American society.
Students participating in the “Diplomatic Youth Ambassadors” program must pass rigorous school and national preliminary rounds. Those who enter the final selection receive a series of training, including diplomatic etiquette and international affairs lectures, simulation of international conferences and diplomatic negotiations, and English public speaking and media response skills.