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On the evening of June 10, Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao returned to Taiwan after the conclusion of her visit to the Republic of Palau, and delivered remarks at Taoyuan International Airport. Vice President Hsiao shared her impressions regarding the diplomatic friendship between Taiwan and Palau, Palauan tourism, and the achievements of the two nations’ cooperation through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project. She expressed confidence that on their existing solid foundation, Taiwan and Palau will continue to deepen cooperation across various fields to jointly promote well-being and national development for both peoples. The vice president also emphasized that the people of Taiwan are people of the world and have every right to engage with the world, and that continued efforts will help ensure that the world sees Taiwan’s value.
In her remarks, the vice president first thanked those who had come to the airport that evening to greet her, and stated that the mission for the “Palau Prosperity Project” entrusted to her by President Lai Ching-te was a success. This trip marked her first visit to a diplomatic ally since assuming the vice presidency, she noted, adding that the thoughtful arrangements made by President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. and the Palauan government made her time there deeply memorable.
Sharing her impressions from the visit, the vice president noted first that the friendship between Taiwan and Palau is that of Austronesian family members connected across the ocean. The delegation received an enthusiastic reception from President Whipps, Vice President Raynold Oilouch, Palauan government officials, and traditional leaders. The warmth and hospitality of Palau’s people, much like that of the people of Taiwan, allowed her to deeply appreciate the close, family-like bonds between the two, while the familiarity of the shared Austronesian cultural connections that transcend language particularly struck a chord with her.
Second, Vice President Hsiao emphasized that Palau’s deep blue ocean and sunshine are beautiful sights not to be missed. She extended special thanks to President Whipps for personally arranging and leading the delegation to visit some of Palau’s well-known attractions. Through the eyes of the delegation members and the lenses of the media, she noted, the beauty and warmth of Palau can be conveyed to more of Taiwan’s citizens. Palau is the closest diplomatic ally to Taiwan geographically, with four scheduled flights per week taking less than four hours each way. Given these convenient travel options, she strongly recommended that her fellow citizens take the opportunity to visit Palau and experience firsthand its beauty and brilliant sunshine.
Third, the vice president highlighted witnessing many achievements of Taiwan-Palau cooperation through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, showcasing Taiwan’s capability to contribute to the international community. She pointed out that during the visit, it was announced that Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau will station personnel in Palau, and drones will be donated to the Palauan government to strengthen various forms of cooperation. She also inspected related infrastructure projects funded by the Taiwan government, observing ongoing construction plans and the tangible achievements of completed projects. Furthermore, she visited Palau’s national hospital, the Taiwan Technical Mission’s demonstration farm, and an aquaculture center, jointly witnessing recent years’ achievements in areas such as infrastructure, agriculture and fisheries, and medicine and public health. These substantive cooperative efforts, she said, give us confidence that Taiwan and Palau will continue to deepen cooperation in various areas on our existing solid foundation, promoting the well-being of both peoples in addition to national development.
The vice president stated that Taiwan’s diplomatic situation is indeed full of challenges, and the pressure faced has never been light. Taiwan is deeply grateful to the Palauan government and people for continuously providing warmth and support, she noted. As President Lai has said, the people of Taiwan are people of the world, and they have every right to engage with the world. Taiwan does not fear adversity, because its people have always been well-intentioned and eager to make concrete contributions to the international community.
Finally, the vice president once again thanked the government of Palau for its gracious support and assistance during her visit. She also expressed special gratitude to Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger (葛葆萱) for accompanying her throughout the visit, as well as to all the team members from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs involved in preparing the itinerary. The vice president particularly highlighted the personnel stationed at Taiwan’s embassy in Palau, praising the frontline efforts of colleagues across various departments to strengthen Taiwan-Palau relations, expand Taiwan’s international space, and contribute to the global community. This includes experts from the medical and technical missions, numerous civic groups, and the many Taiwanese tourists who love Palau’s oceans. She thanked everyone for their contributions to continuously deepening the friendship between the two diplomatic allies, adding that everyone’s participation made the trip exceptionally rewarding. In addition, the vice president thanked the traveling press corps, noting that their involvement provided fellow citizens with more opportunities to learn about Palau while giving the world more opportunities to see Taiwan’s value.
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Lucia Ambassador Robert Kennedy Lewis and Palau Embassy Chargé d’Affaires David Adams Orrukem were present at the airport to welcome the vice president.
