NGO celebrates World Freedom Day in Taiwan

Taipei, Jan. 23 (CNA) The head of the World League for Freedom and Democracy's (WLFD's) Taiwan chapter on Sunday praised the country for making significant strides in promoting freedom and democracy over the years and becoming one of the freest countries in the world, as the NGO celebrated the annual World Freedom Day in Taipei.

Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權), president of WLFD Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) Chapter, said that Taiwan passed some of the oldest democracies in the world, including the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, in the 2021 Freedom in the World annual report.

The accomplishment is the result of joint efforts made by Taiwanese people and governments over the years, he said, while calling countries around the globe to join Taiwan to fight for democracy, freedom, and world peace.

Taiwan ranked No. 7 among 210 countries in an annual report released by the U.S.-based non-governmental organization Freedom House last year.

Tseng made the comments during a World Freedom Day celebration in Taipei organized by the WLFD.

The annual day marks the release of about 22,000 Chinese soldiers who were taken as prisoners by Allied forces in the Korean War (1950-1953), with 14,000 coming to Taiwan, arriving at northern Taiwan's Keelung harbor on Jan. 23, 1954.

The Republic of China government subsequently declared Jan. 23 World Freedom Day to honor these soldiers.

That same year representatives of Taiwan, the Philippines, and South Korea founded the Asian People's Anti-Communist League.

In 1990, the organization was renamed the WLFD, an international NGO dedicated to promoting the values of democracy and freedom.