Director Chiyu Chou of the TECO-Miami speaks at the luncheon podium.
Guests and VIPs attending the luncheon pose for a group photo.
Director Chiyu Chou introduces the geographic shape of Taiwan to the luncheon participants.
Director Chiyu Chou of the TECO-Miami presents Mid-Autumn Festival mooncakes to the Tallahassee Rotary Club, represented by its president, Shawn Woodin.
To enhance understanding of Taiwan among mainstream community and civic leaders in Tallahassee, Florida’s state capital, Director Chiyu Chou of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami (TECO-Miami) was invited to speak at a luncheon hosted by the Tallahassee Rotary Club on September 23. The invitation and local arrangements were actively facilitated by Dr. Lucy Ho, a Senior Adviser of the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), as part of her efforts to promote exchanges between the Taiwanese community and mainstream civic organizations in the Tallahassee area.
In addition to Dr. Ho, OCAC Adviser Carl Huang, OCAC Associate Adviser Tien-Shuenn Wu, and five other active members of the local Taiwanese community were invited by the Rotary Club to attend the luncheon. After introducing Director Chou, Dr. Ho also introduced the seven Taiwanese community representatives to the Rotary members, giving them an opportunity to learn about one another and continue their conversations and exchanges following the presentation.
Director Chou began by highlighting the shared democratic and liberal values of Taiwan and the United States, as well as their common commitment to peace, security, and regional prosperity. He noted that 2026 is a historically significant year for both sides of the Taiwan-U.S. relationship: the United States is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its independence, while Taiwan marks the 30th anniversary of its first direct presidential election.
As Taiwan continues to play an indispensable role in the global high-tech supply chain, economic and industrial exchanges between Taiwan and the United States have entered a new stage. Citing the concept of a “Symbiotic Partnership” proposed by Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, Director Chou explained that Taiwan-U.S. relations have moved beyond traditional bilateral trade and investment toward a new model of mutually beneficial cooperation encompassing economic security, technological innovation, and industrial supply-chain resilience.
Regarding local exchanges and economic cooperation between Taiwan and Florida, Director Chou shared recent developments in the agricultural and semiconductor sectors. In September 2025, Taiwan’s Agricultural Trade Friendship Delegation made its first visit to Florida to learn about the state’s livestock industry, opening a new chapter in agricultural cooperation. More recently, in September 2026, SelectFlorida led another Florida business and government delegation to Taiwan to participate in SEMICON Taiwan 2026 and explore opportunities for strategic cooperation in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, drones, and other emerging technologies. SelectFlorida’s 2026 Taiwan mission took place September 1–5 and included participation in SEMICON Taiwan.
Participants also expressed strong interest in Indo-Pacific security issues, including Taiwan’s concerns over increasing military pressure and gray-zone activities from China. Director Chou explained Taiwan’s determination to strengthen its self-defense capabilities. He also noted that President Lai Ching-te has publicly stated Taiwan’s goal of increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030, while working with like-minded democratic partners to help maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
The luncheon was held in a warm and engaging atmosphere. Following the presentation, the Rotary Club president and other key officers continued discussions with Director Chou and the Taiwanese community representatives on a range of Taiwan-U.S. issues. The informal exchanges gave Rotary members and members of the Taiwanese community an opportunity to establish new personal connections, exchange views, and gain a better understanding of Taiwan and the local Taiwanese community.
The participation of OCAC honorary personnel and other Taiwanese community members also demonstrated the important role of the overseas Taiwanese community in building bridges with mainstream civic organizations and promoting people-to-people diplomacy. The exchange provided an opportunity to deepen understanding of Taiwan among civic and business leaders in Florida’s capital and contributed to closer people-to-people and economic ties between Taiwan and Florida.
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