新 聞 稿 中國國民黨文化傳播委員會 111.6.9
揭牌駐美代表處 朱立倫：堅定愛台親美 捍衛中華民國與民主自由
中國國民黨駐美國代表處在昨日於中常會當中率先視訊開箱後，於美東時間6月8日早上十時，台北時間晚間十時於在華盛頓特區賓州大道601號9樓，由朱立倫主席率領國民黨訪美團成員正式揭牌成立。朱立倫主席表示，國民黨重返華府，要讓大家知道中國國民黨是親美、親民主的政黨，更希望與美方各界隨時溝通、擴大交流。今日駐美代表處揭牌，也收到來自美國各界包括學界、政界、智庫及僑界四面八方的祝賀，美國國務院代表及中華民國友邦前大使都特特地前來共襄盛舉，歡迎國民黨進一步在美國發聲。
朱立倫主席於致辭時表示，自從2008年國民黨駐美代表處關閉後，睽違十四年，歷經大家多年的努力，終於讓國民黨重返華府，「We’re here, we’re back！」他感謝美方各界都表達祝福與歡迎，會努力讓大家知道國民黨是站在民主自由陣營、最愛台灣、最捍衛中華民國的政黨，也希望跟美方隨時溝通交流。同時，朱立倫也感謝在場所有愛國僑領及僑胞代表的熱情支持，希望他們能和駐美代表處的員工及志工一同努力，為國民黨在美國開展更多連結。
在揭牌儀式當中，全體來賓首先肅立唱中華民國國歌和美利堅合眾國國歌，象徵兩國的傳統歷史情誼及對駐在國之尊重，現場儀式簡單隆重、氣氛莊嚴，此地也正是美國國歌在歷史上首次面向公眾演唱之處，格外具有意義。
國民黨副主席夏立言表示，今天現場有諸多美方各界重要友人蒞臨，包括中華民國友邦的前任大使都到場祝賀，未來會連結過去人脈資源，為國民黨在美國打開新局面，結交更多新朋友。
國民黨國際部主任、身兼駐美代表的黃介正表示，駐美代表處地點由僑胞熱情協助找尋，座落於華盛頓特區的賓州大道601號，正好位於美國白宮與國會山莊正中間，除了象徵在立法權與行政權之間的平衡，也代表國民黨將與美方各個重要單位保持最近的距離。
身兼國民黨海外部主任的立法委員陳以信認為，近年國民黨對美外交就像是「義勇軍打游擊戰」，一步一腳印相當辛苦，爾後駐美代表處的開設有如設立堡壘據點，將大大有利於國民黨開展連結僑界以及和美國國會交朋友的工作，未來將繼續結合僑胞、留學生等志工的力量，擴大國民黨在華府的基礎。
國民黨國際部副主任、身兼駐美副代表並將常駐美國的黃裕鈞指出，受到美方各界協助與國際部同仁的努力才有辦法重開駐美代表處，除了使用來自白宮、最遠可追溯到1980年代雷根政府時期的家具，象徵跨世代台美關係的傳承外，今天現場也放置當年國親駐美代表處的黨旗以及國旗，象徵紀念與傳承國民黨駐美發展的歷史，未來會努力克盡職責，在美國為國民黨發聲。
國民黨文傳會副主委林家興於現場直播時表示，發出中道理性聲音探討安全問題、堅定站在民主國家陣營，以及讓台灣聲音在華府完整呈現，是此次國民黨重啟駐美代表的重要意義，而在美國重新開設駐美代表處更是朱立倫競選黨主席時的政見，當地僑胞表示聽聞代表處要重啟多年，今日成真感到「驚喜」、「不敢置信」。而今天由朱主席在代表處親手揭牌，也正是用行動兌現對所有黨員的承諾。
參加揭牌儀式的華府地區僑胞代表、代表美京中華會館的華埠發展公司董事長李治瑞女士表示，樂見國民黨重啟駐美代表處持續擴大與僑界的連結，僑胞會永遠擔任國民黨的志工，一起捍衛中華民國，協助代表處在美國的發展，她要給朱立倫主席肯定，也希望國民黨繼續團結加油！
今日揭牌儀式現場有來自美方政界、智庫、學界及僑界人士等各界貴賓雲集，包括美方官員、中華民國友邦前大使、美方退休外交官、智庫主席、中國問題專家以及華府地區級別最高的國軍退役將領等貴賓皆出席盛會。現場除了台灣媒體外，同時也有來香港、日本等地國際媒體現場採訪、即時轉播報導。
KMT Representative Office in the United States Grand Opening
Eric Chu: KMT Loves Taiwan, Is Pro-US: Safeguard the ROC, Safeguard Democracy & Liberty
After introducing the Kuomintang (KMT) Representative Office in the US at the Central Committee meeting yesterday, Chairman Chu led members of the KMT US delegation to officially announce the opening of the representative office on the 9th floor of 601 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC on June 8th, 10 AM, US Eastern Time. Chu stated that the purpose of the KMT’s return to Washington DC was to let people know that the KMT is a party that is pro-America and pro-democracy. The KMT is also willing to communicate with the US at any time, said Chu, and the party was committed to expanding interactions with the US. At the opening ceremony, the KMT received congratulations from various sectors of the US, including academia, political circles, think tanks, and the overseas Chinese community. Representatives from the US State Department and former Ambassadors of Republic of China (ROC) allies were also in attendance, welcoming the KMT’s progress towards representation in the US.
In his remarks, Chairman Chu thanked everyone’s efforts to bring the KMT back to DC after the party shut down its representative office in 2008. After 14 years of separation, with everyone’s years of hard work, the KMT can finally return to DC: “We’re here, we’re back!” Chairman Chu expressed gratitude for the warm wishes and welcomes from US. He promised that he would work hard to let everyone know that the KMT stands on the side of democracy and liberty, that the KMT loves Taiwan the most, that the KMT works the hardest to safeguard the Republic of China, and that the KMT hopes to be able to communicate with the US at all times. Chairman Chu also expressed his gratitude to the leaders and representatives of the overseas Chinese community who were in attendance at the ceremony for their enthusiasm and support. He hopes that the overseas Chinese community can work hard with the staff and volunteers of the representative office to help the KMT develop even more connections with the US.
During the opening ceremony, all of the guests first stood respectfully to sing the ROC National Anthem and the USA National Anthem, symbolizing the two nations’ traditional history of camaraderie and mutual respect. The ceremony was simple and solemn, with an air of dignity.
KMT Vice Chairman Andrew Hsia said that there were many important friends from various U.S. sectors in attendance today, including former Ambassadors of ROC allies, who were present to give their congratulations. Building on these valuable connections, the representative office would help the KMT turn a new page and make even more allies.
KMT Department of International Affairs & Representative to the US Alexander Huang said that enthusiastic overseas Chinese had helped to find the location for the representative office. The office sits on 601 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC, equidistance from the US Capitol Building and the White House. In addition to symbolizing the balance between the Legislative Branch and the Executive Branch, the location also indicates that the KMT will stay close to every important sector of the US.
Department of Overseas Affairs Director & Legislator Charles Chen believes that in recent years, the KMT’s diplomatic efforts towards the US have been “a volunteer army fighting a guerilla war.” Every step forward has been quite arduous, but the establishment of the Representative Office will be like the establishment of a strategic fortress which will enormously benefit the KMT’s task of developing links with overseas Chinese communities and the US Congress. The KMT will continue integrating the strengths of overseas Chinese, exchange students, and volunteers to broaden the KMT’s foundations in Washington DC.
KMT Department of International Affairs Deputy Director, Deputy Representative to the US, & Incipient Resident of the US Eric Huang pointed out that it was only through assistance from numerous US groups and the efforts of his colleagues at the Department of International Affairs that the Representative Office in the US was able to be reopened. He said that the office has furniture that came from the 1980’s Reagan administration White House, symbolizing the bequeathing of a continued tradition of ROC-USA relations. In addition, the ROC flag and KMT banner from the former KMT / PFP joint Representative Office in the US were also placed at the ceremony, symbolizing commemoration and bequeathing of the history of the KMT’s development in the US. In the future, the office would work hard and strictly observe its duty to be the voice of the KMT in the US.
Washington DC Area Overseas Chinese Representative & Representing the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of Washington, DC’s Chinatown Development Company Chairwoman Madam Rita Lee said that she was happy to see the KMT reopen its Representative Office in the US and continue to expand its ties with overseas Chinese communities. She continued on, stating that the overseas Chinese will always serve as volunteers for the KMT, safeguard the Republic of China with the KMT, and assist with the representative office’s development in the US. Madam Lee gives Chairman Chu her affirmation and hopes that the KMT will continue to be united and continue to make the extra effort!
Gathered at the opening ceremony today were individuals from US political circles, think tanks, academia, the overseas Chinese community and other VIP’s from all walks of life, including US officials, former Ambassadors of ROC allies, retired US diplomats, think tanks directors, China studies experts, the highest-ranking retired ROC military officer in the DC area, and other VIP’s, who all attended the event. Furthermore, in addition to Taiwan news media, Hong Kong and Japan international media were also in attendance for on-the-spot interviews and immediate broadcasting of their news reports.
