Premier Jiang Yi-huah today received Heritage Foundation Distinguished Fellow and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. He called the Taiwan-born politician and first woman of Asian descent ever to serve in the U.S. Cabinet the "pride of Taiwan."
Chao led the U.S. Department of Labor from 2001 to 2009. "Serving such a long secretarial term is not easy," the premier remarked. She has also been the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation. Jiang said Chao is passionate about both transportation and labor affairs and also pays close attention to finance, education and humanitarian issues.
"Her outstanding achievements have won high approval in the United States," he stated.
Chao, who emigrated from Taiwan to the U.S. with her family while in elementary school, immediately donated a large sum of money to reconstruction efforts after Typhoon Morakot in 2009. "This demonstrated her deep feelings for her homeland," Jiang said, thanking her for this contribution on behalf of all citizens.
The premier added that he had the utmost respect for the Chao family for donating US$40 million to Harvard University for the construction of the Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Center and the establishment of the Ruth Mulan Chu and James Si-Cheng Chao Family Fellowship Fund. (Ruth Mulan Chu Chao was Elaine Chao's mother, and James Si-Cheng (S.C.) Chao is her father.)
Jiang also highly praised the achievements of James S.C. Chao, who is the founder of the Foremost Group, a shipping, trading and finance enterprise. The premier pointed out that during the Battle of Guningtou (in Kinmen against the Chinese Communist forces in 1949) James S.C. Chao assisted the Republic of China military with battlefield transport, making a great contribution to Taiwan.
Elaine Chao and her husband, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)—who is currently Senate Minority Leader and will become Senate Majority Leader at the beginning of the next Congressional term—have spared no effort for Taiwan, the premier said. He expressed congratulations for McConnell's re-election in America's November 4 elections and his upcoming elevation to Senate majority leadership. The premier asked former Secretary Chao to continue doing what she can for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and working together with the nation for its welfare.
Elaine and James S.C. Chao are to both receive honorary doctorates from National Chiao Tung University. The premier expressed heartfelt gratitude to Elaine Chao for making time in her trip schedule to visit the Executive Yuan.