President Ma Ying-jeou will be awarded this year’s Eisenhower Medallion for his promotion of regional peace with the East China Sea Peace Initiative. The award is the most prestigious award for contributions to international understanding presented by the US-based NGO People to People International.
Ma’s initiative calls on parties to put aside conflicts and jointly develop resources in the East China Sea and South China Sea using peaceful means.
Ma will personally receive the award on Friday and present a speech.
President Ma will be the first president of the Republic of China on Taiwan and the second person from Taiwan to receive the award. The first Taiwanese recipient was Master Cheng Yen, the founder of the charity organization Tzu Chi Foundation. Other past recipients include former South African president Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa.