President Tsai receives 'Tech Freedom Award' from U.S. think tank

Taipei, Aug. 10 (CNA) Former U.S. State Department official Keith Krach presented President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) with the Krach Institute's "Tech Freedom Award," during a meeting at the Presidential Office in Taipei Thursday.

The Purdue University-based institute bestowed the honor on Tsai in light of her "exemplary leadership in the realm of tech diplomacy and her steadfast commitment to advancing the cause of freedom," according to Krach, who served as under secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment from 2019 until 2021.

"We salute you, we admire you [and] on behalf of the Krach Institute and free people around the world, we proudly bestow upon you the Tech Freedom Award -- may our partnership continue to flourish and inspire the world," Krach said.

During their meeting, Tsai said that amid the rise of authoritarianism, Taiwan remained committed to partnering with the United States to foster regional and global prosperity.

Tsai also recalled the visit of Krach to Taiwan three years ago, during which he led a delegation of senior officials from the U.S. State Department.

Krach's presence at the memorial service for late president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) showcased the U.S.'s support for Taiwan during that visit, she said.

She noted that Krach and Purdue University President Mung Chiang co-founded the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue (KITDP) to actively promote the use of high-end technology to safeguard the world's democracy, freedom and human rights, and also to support Taiwan as a stronghold of democracy and freedom.

In response, Krach said the KITDP is working to launch the "Taiwan Center for Innovation and Prosperity (TCIP)," because without a strong, resilient and free Taiwan, freedoms everywhere would be imperiled by authoritarianism.

Krach, who became the highest-ranking incumbent State Department official to visit Taiwan in 41 years in 2020, has been in Taiwan again since Wednesday in his capacity as the KITDP head, the Institute said in a press release.

During his remaining time in Taiwan, Krach is scheduled to meet government officials, technology CEOs and academic leaders, the KITDP said Tuesday.

According to the think tank, Krach's Aug. 9-12 trip is focused on strengthening tech security and launching the TCIP.