President Tsai Receives Global Leadership Award 蔡總統獲頒全球領導力獎 現場發表演說

President Tsai Ing-wen is currently in New York and received a global leadership award from the Hudson Institute, with protestors gathering outside to voice their disapproval.

“Will you meet with Pompeo? Which topics will you talk about today?”President Tsai Ing-wen ignores reporters' questions after arriving at her New York hotel on the evening of the 30th Eastern Standard Time. Tsai received a global leadership award from the Hudson Institute during her brief stop in New York. She did not meet with Mike Pompeo, who is currently the chair of the advisory board of the institute's China Center.

Chang Tun-han, Deputy Secretary-General, Presidential Office: “According to the president, China is always intentionally trying to raise tensions but Taiwan always stays calm and collected. The president says Taiwan shows the world that it is the responsible side in cross-Strait relations. She also says Taiwanese people want peace but history tells us that the best way to avoid war is to strengthen yourself.”

The Hudson Institute is one of the U.S.' top five conservative think tanks and has countless former Republican officials on its roster. Protestors against Tsai have shown up in droves along her stops in New York, with New York City police being dispatched to maintain order. One of the founders of the Heritage Foundation, Edwin Feulner, condemned the protest and said Tsai should visit Washington D.C.

Edwin Feulner, Co-founder, Heritage Foundation: “In the United States, we always believe in freedom of speech, but it's too bad that some people around would try to stop freedom of speech. I'm glad we're all here to celebrate her tonight and yes, I hope sometime very soon it will happen in Washington D.C. too.”

National Security Bureau Director Tsai Ming-yen claims the protestors are all Chinese and are being paid US$200 a day. The claim has been shot down by the overseas Chinese community.

Overseas Chinese-American: “The $200 claim is ludicrous. It's such a pitiful story. You want to give me $200?”

Tsai will leave New York for Guatemala on the 31st Taiwan time. On her way back to Taiwan, she will transit in Los Angeles on April 5 and meet with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. According to Reuters, McCarthy will have an entourage of 20-plus members of Congress.

「總統會跟龐佩奧見到面嗎，今天大概會談哪些議題？」面對記者詢問沒有回應，總統蔡英文美東時間30日晚間7時，抵達紐約洲際酒店，為了領取哈德遜研究所頒發的全球領導力獎。

不過這項行程低調謹慎，總統府沒有說明出席人士，也沒有外界猜測的前美國國務卿，現任哈德遜研究所中國中心主席龐佩奧（Michael Pompeo）。

總統府副秘書長張惇涵表示，「總統強調中國刻意升高緊張情勢，但台灣總是謹慎並冷靜的回應，讓世界看到台灣在兩岸關係中，我們是負責任的那一方。台灣人民期盼和平，但歷史告訴我們，最佳避戰的方法就是讓自己更有實力。」

哈德遜研究所是美國5大保守派智庫之一，並有多位共和黨籍前官員擔任學者向來反共，因此這次頒獎給蔡總統也引來中國抗議。

公視記者韓瑩報導，「總統蔡英文晚間在洲際酒店，領取哈德遜研究所頒發的全球領導力獎。可以看到晚間從下午5時開始，中國民眾就在飯店外抗議。」

中國抗議民眾緊跟總統行程，紐約警方出動大批人馬時刻緊盯，就怕發生衝突。來參加頒獎活動的美國傳統基金會創辦人佛訥也譴責中國的抗議行徑，並表示希望蔡總統能夠訪問華府。

美國傳統基金會創辦人佛訥提及，「在美國我們都相信言論自由，太不幸周邊的這些人想要阻擋言論自由停止活動，我們很開心在這裡替她慶祝，是的我希望未來這也會發生在華府。」

先前國安局長蔡明彥表示，中國動員團體來抗議是給一天200塊美金的費用，中國僑民對此感到憤怒，一度和台灣媒體記者有言語衝突。

中國民眾說道，「哪裡來的200，很遺憾，沒有哪裡來的200，你給我200啊。」

蔡總統將在台灣時間31日晚間結束紐約行程，轉往瓜地馬拉訪問。4月5日則將過境美國洛杉磯，將與眾議院議長麥卡錫見面，路透社指出已有20多位議員報名參與，相當踴躍。