TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim, speaking at the Taiwan Women Impact Summit on Wednesday (April 10), said Taiwan's achievements in gender equality are a source of pride worldwide.
Hsiao highlighted Taiwan's outstanding performance in the fifth goal of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - gender equality. She said Taiwan's achievements in political and social equality surpass even those of the United States.
Hsiao shared her experience of being underestimated. During her tenure as a representative in the U.S., she was sometimes mistaken for a secretary, while her male secretary was assumed to be the representative.
However, the vice president-elect praised Taiwan's progress in gender equality. She pointed out that 20 years ago, women MPs made up just 20% of the Taiwanese Parliament. By 2020, that figure had risen to over 40%.
Hsiao further noted that the resilience shown by Taiwanese women in the face of geopolitical challenges has won international support.
At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in November last year, Hsiao met former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who told her to "Be Yourself." Hsiao believes that being true to oneself and others, and taking responsibility, are the driving forces behind Taiwan's societal progress.