Events >> Democracy Service Medal >> 2002 Democracy Service Medal
Madame Chen Wu, Sue-jen, First Lady of the Republic of China (Taiwan), awarded Democracy Service Medal at Capitol Hill Ceremony

On Wednesday, September 25, 2002, NED awarded its Democracy Service Medal to Taiwan's First Lady Chen-Wu Sue-jen. Presented by U.S. Representative Christopher Cox, a member of the bi-partisan NED Board and the House Republican Leadership, the Service Medal was give in recognition of Mrs. Chen's great personal contribution to the establishment of full democracy in Taiwan.

Mrs. Chen accepted the Medal with spontaneous and heartfelt remarks, and pledged that Taiwan would soon establish its own democracy promotion foundation.

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) was created in 1983 as a private, nonprofit, grant-making foundation with a mission to strengthen democratic institutions and values around the world through non-governmental efforts. NED is governed by a distinguished bi-partisan Board of Directors.

U.S. Representative Christopher Cox, who will present the Service Medal to Madame Chen, is a member of the NED Board, as well as the House Republican Leadership and the Congressional Taiwan Caucus.

NED's relationship with the ROC goes back to 1995, when its International Forum for Democratic Studies co-sponsored, with Taiwan's Institute for National Policy Research, a conference on "Consolidating the Third Wave Democracies." The following year NED honored President Lee Teng Hui and the people of Taiwan at a Capitol Hill reception after it held its first direct Presidential election.

Since the Endowment's founding, other democracies have created organizations with a similar mission, helping to make democracy promotion a truly global effort. We welcome Taiwan's entry into this important area of work.
Tribute to Madame Chen Wu, Sue-jen
First Lady of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Upon the Presentation of the Democracy Service Medal

As it has moved down the democratic path, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has been fortunate to have many heroes. Indeed, it is they who have shaped the democracy that we celebrate here today on Capitol Hill, none more so than First Lady Chen Wu, Sue-jen.

Mrs. Chen has earned a special place in the history of Taiwan's process of democratization, which includes the smooth transfer of power to the former opposition party following the election of her husband, Chen Shiu-bian, in March 2000.

Born to wealth and comfort, Chen Wu, Sue-jen could have chosen an easier life. Instead, she committed herself to the political freedom of her people, an honorable struggle that, while bringing her personal pain and suffering, has also given her the satisfaction of knowing that it helped to advance the twin causes of human rights and democracy.

From the 1979 Kaoshing Incident, when she stood with her husband, then a young lawyer, in taking up the cause that would set in motion his political career, to her own successful bid for a seat in the national legislature following his arrest nearly a decade later and her outstanding work as the First Lady of Taiwan, Mrs. Chen has displayed an abiding commitment to democratic reform. She has managed to do so while enduring an injury that occurred while participating in the political process, one that left her permanently paralyzed.

She has born the scars of her disability with grace and charm, determined to get on with the business of helping her people. Although her public life in recent years has been closely tied to her husband's brilliant career as a democratic leader, we honor her today as a democratic leader in her own right. She exemplifies as much as anyone the singular democratic spirit of Taiwan, a spirit that Taiwan will soon share with the world through the establishment of its own foundation for the support of international democracy.

For her personal courage, her strength of character, and the inspiration she has provided to the people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), we are proud to present the Democracy Service Medal of the National Endowment for Democracy to Madame Chen Wu, Sue-jen.

September 25, 2002

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