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TaiwanPresident praises U.S. climbers Alex Honnold after him Climb Taipei 101 without ropes or safety nets in a live broadcast Netflix broadcast.
Honnold’s achievement attracted millions of viewers from around the world and thrust the island’s skyline into the global spotlight, but it also reignited ethical debates about the extreme risks of broadcasting.
President Lai Chengde said the climb was “really nerve-wracking” but expressed his gratitude Honnold and organizers showcase Taiwan to international audience. “Congratulations to fearless Alex for completing this challenge and thanks to everyone behind the scenes who made this challenge possible and helped put Taiwan on the international stage,” Mr Lai wrote on Facebook.
Honnold completes free solo climb – a climb that requires no protective gear – took 91 minutes to reach the top of the 508-metre tower as thousands of people watched from the streets below. “It’s disgusting,” he said when he reached the top, later adding: “What a beautiful way to see Taipei.”
The event was broadcast live worldwide skyscraper live After being postponed for one day due to rain, it will continue with permission from the owners of Taipei 101 and the city government. Executive producer James Smith said it was unusual for a building to allow such access, calling the tower “a true icon of this country.”
Taipei 101 was the world’s tallest building from 2004 to 2010, dominating the skyline and a symbol of Taiwan’s modernization. Its unique “bamboo box” design features stacked balconies every eight floors, forming regular ledges, which climbers say make it ideal for this type of climb.
Mr Lai said the event showcased more than just the skyscrapers themselves. “Through the lens of Netflix’s live broadcast, the world not only saw Taipei 101, but also the enthusiasm and enthusiasm of the people of Taiwan, as well as the beautiful mountains and scenery of this land,” he wrote. Former President Tsai Ing-wen also congratulated Honnold.
The climb attracted widespread international coverage, providing Taiwan with rare exposure for reasons other than its dominant semiconductor industry or tense relations with China. Beijing claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory, but Taiwan’s democratically elected government rejects that position.
The crowd followed Honnold’s progress in person and online, with some waving flags and banners.
Later, as the climber prepared to leave with his wife, Sanni Honnold, travelers stopped him at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport to take photos. When reporters asked him if he would return, he replied: “Yes,” according to Taiwan News.
In addition to praise, the spectacle has also sparked criticism from climbers and commentators who question whether the risk is justified.
According to reports, Netflix’s live broadcast has a 10-second delay. Allows live broadcasts to be interrupted in emergencies and warns viewers. Any mistake during free climbing can be fatal.
Recent history has sharpened the debate. Last October, 23-year-old American climber Balin Miller fell to his death from El Capitan in Yosemite National Park during a TikTok livestream, an incident that shocked viewers and reignited debate about livestreaming high-risk physical feats.
In an article in Singapore straits timesTaiwanese journalist Ye Huiyi questioned “whether these risks are reasonable.”
“Any mistake could have been fatal and traumatic not only for his wife – who later said she ‘basically had a panic attack the whole time’ while watching him climb – but also for anyone else watching so intently,” she wrote.
The incident divided the climbing community. In an interview with The Guardian at a climbing gym in Taipei, Yang Zexiao, 41, a teacher and keen amateur rock climber, criticized the way Netflix broadcast the climbing attempt.
“I don’t see why it has to be done, other than commercial reasons,” he said. “If he goes down, the cost will be huge.”
Supporters counter that Honnold is one of the world’s most experienced climbers, best known for his ropeless climb of El Capitan documented in the Oscar-winning film free solo. Experts say the climb to Taipei 101, while dangerous, is not as technically complex as some of his previous routes. Honnold himself has said that skyscrapers test endurance more than difficult moves.
The structure has been climbed before. In 2004, French mountaineer Alain Robert, known as “Spider-Man”, climbed the Taipei 101 building while carrying a safety rope during a promotional event.