BOSTON – Taiwan’s United States ambassador visited the State House on Thursday. 

It was the first time Ambassador Alexander Yui has been outside of Washington D.C., since taking the position. He wanted his first stop to be in Massachusetts, a state he calls the birthplace of freedom. 

He thanked Massachusetts lawmakers for their sympathy and support following the tragedy in his home country. 

“It was heartwarming, the support and the expressions of concern that our American friends, in particular here in Boston and Massachusetts, received as we faced a 7.4-Richter scale earthquake, a very strong earthquake. But Taiwan is a very resilient island,” said Yui. 

Yui said although the country is devastated by the casualties caused by the earthquake, the improvements in infrastructure they have made in the last 20 years saved countless lives. 

Rep. Jim O’Day (D-West Boylston), who has a close relationship with the Taiwan delegation and has travelled to the island, was very concerned about the people there.

“The first thing I did was pick up the phone and call my friend Alex and express my condolences and concern,” said O’Day. “It certainly was a bad circumstance, but not as bad as it could have been with an earthquake.”

O’Day has been to Taiwan twice in his career, most recently eight months ago, and he can’t speak highly enough about the people he met there. He hopes that they can get back on their feet quickly.