TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday (Nov. 26) praised the Team Taiwan baseball players for showcasing the country's prowess beyond semiconductors and emphasized the global recognition brought by their triumph.
Speaking at the Presidential Office to celebrate the team's victory in the WBSC Premier12, President Lai expressed his overwhelming joy, likening it to personal milestones. "I am extremely happy today, as are everyone else in Taiwan," he said.
He congratulated Team Taiwan, calling them heroes for securing the nation's first world-class championship. The president thanked the players for elevating Taiwan to the world's top rank, stating, "You are the glory of Taiwan, and because of you, the international community sees Taiwan not only for semiconductors but also for baseball."
President Lai commended the team's dedication from the group stage at Taipei Dome (大巨蛋) to the finals at Tokyo Dome. He highlighted the exceptional performances, particularly noting Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) and Lyle Lin (林家正) for their home runs in the championship game, which helped secure a historic shutout victory against Japan.
After Team Taiwan clinched the championship by defeating Japan at Tokyo Dome last Sunday, the Presidential Office organized a grand parade, culminating at the Presidential Office, where the military honor guard welcomed the team with a ceremonial arch of swords.
