President Lai attends luncheon hosted by overseas community in Guam
At noon on December 5 local time (morning of December 5 Taipei time), President Lai Ching-te attended an expatriate luncheon in Guam while on a transit stop during a series of state visits to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Palau. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government of the United States for its assistance based on the principles of safety, dignity, comfort, and convenience, helping make the trip smooth and successful. The president noted that Taiwan and the US share the universal values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. President Lai said he believes that as long as we work together, we can overcome all manner of challenges, and that we will work with the US and other fellow democracies to safeguard Taiwan’s security, maintain regional peace, and benefit the world.
After arriving, President Lai first listened to a song of prayer by members of a cultural organization singing in Guam’s indigenous Chamorro language. In remarks, the president stated that this was his first trip to Guam. He thanked Governor of Guam Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero, her husband Jeffrey A. Cook, and the many distinguished US guests for attending and showing their support for Taiwan.
The president stated that this was his first overseas trip since his inauguration on May 20 this year, encompassing allies the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and his next destination of Palau, with transit stops in Hawaii and Guam. He once again thanked the US government for its assistance based on the principles of safety, dignity, comfort, and convenience, helping make the trip smooth and successful. He then invited everyone present to give a big round of applause to the US government, as well as American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairperson Laura Rosenberger and Managing Director Ingrid Larson for their strong support.
The president noted that the three Pacific allies he was visiting and the two locations where he made transit stops all share Austronesian culture with Taiwan, making us family, and that he felt very connected to each place he went during this trip. We are like-minded partners, he said, sharing the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights, jointly pursuing global peace and the well-being of our peoples.
President Lai also mentioned that with every encounter during this trip, whether through a handshake or a hug, all parties encouraged and felt deeply connected to one another. He thanked Governor Leon Guerrero and her husband for inviting him to the governor’s residence that day, where they joined in singing the national anthems of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the US, as well as the Guam Hymn. He said he felt like old friends from the start with Governor Leon Guerrero, as both have medical backgrounds, and both have made commitments to improve the well-being of their peoples.
President Lai said he was honored to have received a copy of the Taiwan-friendly resolution passed by the Guam Legislature earlier that day on behalf of the people of Taiwan. He noted that for four consecutive years, the Guam Legislature has passed Taiwan-friendly resolutions, and moving forward, based on this resolution, Taiwan and Guam will certainly be able to establish even more friendly cooperation, deepen their relations, and create greater mutual benefits for their peoples. He also thanked Speaker Therese M. Terlaje, Vice Speaker Tina Rose Muña Barnes, and the senators of the Guam Legislature for the staunch support and deep friendship they have shown to Taiwan. The president also mentioned that during his stopover in Hawaii, he received a US flag and a Hawaii state flag on behalf of the people of Taiwan.
The president stated that whether it was singing the national anthems at the governor’s residence, receiving the copy of the Taiwan-friendly resolution passed by the Guam Legislature, or receiving the flags from the Hawaii State Legislature, all were demonstrations of the deep connections between Taiwan and the US and our rock-solid partnership. He expressed confidence that, moving forward, Taiwan and the US would even further advance bilateral relations, and jointly promote democracy, freedom, and prosperity.
The president thanked the members of the overseas community for making time to join the luncheon, and stated that the efforts of the Taiwanese people over the past decades have seen significant results internationally. Taiwan’s democracy, he said, has given us a better way of life, and because of our democracy, we have freedom and diverse creativity that have allowed our economy to steadily grow. Shared democratic values, he said, have allowed Taiwan to make friends with Guam, Hawaii, the US, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Palau, and democracies throughout the world.
The president stated that Taiwan went through a dark time of authoritarian rule, and today has become a beacon for democracy in Asia. Addressing his fellow Taiwanese overseas, the president urged that no matter where you are in this world, let us make a joint commitment to continue strengthening and protecting democracy, and let us not bow down to authoritarianism.
In terms of the economy, the president said that Taiwan has progressed from the agriculture and industry of the past into the age of technology, and through everyone’s collective efforts, has become the world’s 21st-largest economy. Our semiconductor industry ranks first in the world, the president said, and over 90 percent of the world’s advanced chips are manufactured in Taiwan. Our mission, he said, is to use semiconductors to help the world promote economic prosperity and development.
The president went on to say that worldwide, Taiwan is not only number one in semiconductors, but also in baseball. In this year’s World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 tournament, Taiwan was the world champion. Thirty years ago, if someone said that Taiwan would become the world’s leading contract wafer producer; or 10 years ago, if someone said that Taiwan could manufacture submarines; or one month ago, if someone said that Taiwan’s baseball team would become world champions, people would not believe it. But we have achieved all those things, the president said.
The president emphasized that for decades, we have accomplished things that other people thought were impossible. He thanked the overseas Taiwanese community for their contributions, and said he believes that as long as we work together, we can overcome all manner of challenges, and that we will work with the US and other fellow democracies to safeguard Taiwan’s security, maintain regional peace, and benefit the world.
President Lai stated that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. It also marks the 80th anniversary of Guam’s Liberation Day, and this year’s theme, “Peace for Us Always,” is profoundly significant. In addition to thanking the US once again for its long-term support, the president said that, with Peace for Us Always as the goal, he hopes to work together with Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and people from all walks of life in the US to pursue global democracy, peace, and prosperity.
In her remarks, AIT Managing Director Larson welcomed President Lai to Guam and stated that the US and Taiwan have a broad relationship focusing on democracy, security, prosperity, and Taiwan’s place in the international community. For Taiwan and the US, she said, perhaps the most important of our shared values is democracy, and Taiwan is a leading democracy in the Indo-Pacific region.
Managing Director Larson pointed out that the North Star of success of American administrations has been cross-strait peace and stability. The US therefore will continue to help Taiwan bolster its self-defense capabilities, she said, applauds all of Taiwan’s efforts to reinforce its self-defense capabilities, including reforms and resource investment, and supports the approach of whole-of-society resilience.
Managing Director Larson also said that the reopening of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam will provide a great platform to expand academic, scientific, investment, and cultural exchanges, and she looks forward to continued collaboration to preserve the bonds of friendship, culture, values, and civic engagement.
AIT Chairperson Rosenberger welcomed President Lai to Guam via video, and also thanked Managing Director Larson for representing AIT in Guam while she is on parental leave. Chairperson Rosenberger noted that in terms of international space, economic engagement, whole-of-society resilience, and shared values, the US and Taiwan are doing so much work together, with so many elements to the foundation of our bilateral partnership. She also expressed hope that President Lai’s visit to Guam will be productive, and wished him a smooth journey to Palau.
CNMI Governor Arnold I. Palacios also delivered remarks, welcoming President Lai to Guam and stating that CNMI shares with Taiwan the common values of democracy and friendship, as well as cultural similarities. Despite the challenges presented by the current geopolitical environment, he said, he looks forward to an enduring friendship with Taiwan to ensure that our democratic values across the region continue and endure.
In her remarks, Governor Leon Guerrero said she was pleased that President Lai made Guam a part of his Pacific tour, reflecting the deep and growing ties between Taiwan and Guam, two island communities with a common Austronesian ancestry and shared values and aspirations. Governor Leon Guerrero remarked that our strength lies in unity, and we are more resilient and agile when we work together. Together, she said, we can propel our region toward a more sustainable and prosperous future and uplift our people. She said she looks forward to many more exchanges between our islands, sharing knowledge, culture, opportunities, and traditions that will contribute to the collective advancement of the Austronesian region. Lastly, she wished that President Lai’s Pacific trip will bring about meaningful connections for a smarter, more sustainable future.
Following the speeches, Governors Leon Guerrero and Palacios presented President Lai with congratulatory letters, and CNMI Senator Celina Babauta presented President Lai with a copy of the CNMI Senate’s Taiwan-friendly resolution.