By Seth Daniel
City Councillor Judith Garcia has been selected by the U.S. State Department to serve as a Massachusetts representative on an official diplomatic mission to Taiwan.
Taiwan was not something Garcia had been considering.
That changed when the U.S. State Department called. Now, with roughly a week to prepare, Councillor Judith Garcia will represent Massachusetts on an official U.S. diplomatic mission to Taiwan.
“I literally got the phone call out of the blue from the State Department and had, literally again, 30 seconds to decide,” she said. “I thought quick and I had no obligations that held me back from doing it and so I said ‘yes.’”
The U.S. State Department selected Garcia as one of 40 elected officials from across the nation for this diplomatic mission to Taiwan. Her departure is scheduled for next Thursday, Oct. 27.
The mission will span one week.
“I have just one week to prepare and learn everything I can about Taiwan,” she said. “There are some interesting things about it because it is independent, but China does not recognize it as an independent nation.”
Tensions between Taiwan and China have persisted since the 1950s, though Taiwan has counted the United States among its most steadfast allies and protectors.
Quincy City Councillor Nina Liang will join Garcia in representing the state. Boston Council President Michelle Wu is among those who have previously represented Massachusetts on such missions.