Outgoing Australian representative to Taiwan Jenny Bloomfield posted a goodbye video message on social media speaking in fluent Taiwanese Hokkien. She thanks the Taiwanese people for their warmth and friendship and says Taiwan will always be in her heart.
Bloomfield has served in the role since February 2021. Some Taiwanese netizens were shocked by the representative’s fluency in Taiwanese Hokkien and praised her use of the local language as demonstrating Australia’s commitment to Taiwan. The language, often referred to simply as Taiwanese, has about 7 million native speakers in Taiwan according to national statistics.
In the video, Bloomfield says that the two sides share values as well as have rich indigenous histories and cultures. She adds that both are also committed to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region. Bloomfield praises Taiwan’s commitment to democracy and freedom, and says she hopes that she and Taiwan will “meet again.”