It was Taiwan Culture Night at Oracle Park on Sept. 3 as the San Francisco Giants hosted the Arizona Diamondbacks, and more than a thousand Taiwanese showed up to support the Giants, wave national flags, and see a tech superstar throw out the first pitch.
The event was co-hosted by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, EVA Air, and the San Francisco Giants.
As a highlight of the celebration, the organizers invited Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Santa Clara-based chip maker Nvidia, to start the contest by throwing the ceremonial first pitch.
Huang, a popular figure among many in the Taiwanese community, drew an early crowd to the stadium and met fans, took photos, and signed autographs.
Yibin Shi, owner of a bubble tea shop in the Bay Area, waited in line for a photo opportunity with Huang. In an interview with The Epoch Times, he said that he’s been in the United States for 24 years and has noticed a significant increase in Taiwan’s visibility in America in recent years, “which is something we are most proud of.” He also expressed his hope that American society will recognize Taiwan’s freedom and democracy.
Amy Wang, after taking a photo with Mr. Huang, said she would represent the Bay Area in the Mrs. Asia USA pageant later this year. Her husband works for Nvidia, and they attended specifically to support Huang. She mentioned that she was born in Taiwan and raised in the United States, and she was thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate the cultural exchange with a group of people who share her background.
At a press conference before the game, Ming-chi Lai, director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in San Francisco, expressed his gratitude to Huang for his support of the event.
“I hope that through today’s event, we can strengthen the cohesion of the Taiwanese community,” he said.
Lai also hoped that through media coverage, more Americans would learn about Taiwan and be encouraged to visit, experiencing the island’s food and scenery.
Mark Chandler, director of international trade and commerce for the San Francisco mayor’s office, mentioned in an interview that San Francisco and Taipei have had a sister city relationship for 55 years, a friendship that is valuable to San Francisco.
Chandler also noted that San Francisco’s residents come from all over the world, and the San Francisco Giants celebrate the city’s different cultures: “Tonight is one in many that they are celebrating those members of our community.”
Before the game, the California Line Dance Association of America performed a dance with Taiwanese elements, and a choir—made up of members of the National Taiwan University Alumni Association of Northern California—led the singing of the U.S. national anthem.
Sophia Chuang, director of the Culture Center of TECO in San Francisco, said she was delighted to see so many overseas Taiwanese bringing their national flags to participate in the event.
Director Lai said he is optimistic about Taiwan-U.S. relations, adding, “The best is yet to come.”
