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On the afternoon of September 9, President Lai Ching-te received the credentials of new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Palau to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Gaafar J. Uherbelau. In remarks, President Lai noted that Taiwan and Palau are linked by deep Austronesian cultural roots and share the values of freedom and democracy. The president expressed gratitude to Palau for consistently speaking up for Taiwan and staunchly backing Taiwan’s participation in the international community. He also expressed hope that the two nations will continue to support each other on the international stage, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various areas, and together create a prosperous, smart, and sustainable future.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
It gives me great pleasure to receive the credentials of Ambassador Uherbelau. On behalf of all the people of Taiwan, I extend a sincere welcome to you as you assume your new post here.
Ambassador Uherbelau possesses a wealth of experience. He has served in such key positions as minister of health and human services, deputy incident commander at the Emergency Operations Center, and special advisor to the president on health, roles in which he has worked tirelessly for public health and medicine in Palau. In 2023, then-Minister of Health Uherbelau attended the Global Health and Welfare Forum in Taiwan, where he advanced health-related exchanges between our countries. Ambassador Uherbelau has long enjoyed the confidence of the government of Palau. His appointment as ambassador to Taiwan by President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. further demonstrates Palau’s high regard and expectations for our nations’ diplomatic ties.
Taiwan and Palau have maintained increasingly close interactions over the past two years and more. In 2024, I visited Palau shortly after taking office; in 2025, President Whipps led a delegation to Taiwan; this June, Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao paid a visit to Palau. At the end of last month, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) attended the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which was hosted by Palau. In the course of these exchanges, we have jointly witnessed the fruits of our cooperation in various areas, and our ties have continued to deepen.
In view of changes in the regional and geopolitical landscapes, I would especially like to thank the government of Palau. Whether at the PIF, the United Nations General Assembly, the World Health Assembly, or other important global meetings, you have spoken up for Taiwan and staunchly backed our participation in the international community. The Taiwanese people are deeply touched by this warm friendship.
Taiwan and Palau are linked by deep Austronesian cultural roots and share the values of freedom and democracy. I look forward to our two countries continuing to support each other on the international stage. Let us deepen our exchanges and collaboration across every domain and contribute all we can to the development of Palau, Taiwan, and the Indo-Pacific region. Together, we can create a prosperous, smart, and sustainable future.
In closing, I once again welcome Ambassador Uherbelau to Taiwan. Please convey our heartfelt wishes to President Whipps and all our good friends in Palau. I am confident that, through joint efforts, our diplomatic ties will reach even greater heights.
Ambassador Uherbelau then delivered remarks, first conveying warm greetings from President Whipps and the government and people of the Republic of Palau to President Lai. He said it is a distinct honor and privilege to present his letters of credence accrediting him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Palau to the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Ambassador Uherbelau recalled that in May 1984, the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund dispatched its first technical mission to Palau to address challenges in food production. In many ways, he said, those dedicated professionals were among the earliest to represent the relationship between Taiwan and Palau, laying the foundation for the close partnership our two nations enjoy today. He added that 15 years later, in 1999, Palau and Taiwan established formal diplomatic relations, opening new avenues for collaboration across multiple sectors of mutual interest.
Ambassador Uherbelau noted that beyond official ties, the friendship between Palau and Taiwan is rooted in the shared cultural heritage of our peoples. As members of the broader Austronesian family, he said, Palau and Taiwan share ancestral connections that span generations and reflect a common appreciation for the ocean, the environment, community, the preservation of culture, and the advancement of human development. Those connections are beautifully reflected in the voyages of the Alingano Maisu, he noted, whose journey across the Pacific celebrated the revival of traditional navigation, ancestral knowledge, and the enduring relationship between Austronesian peoples. Its voyages between Palau and Taiwan, he said, serve as a powerful reminder that the ocean has never separated our communities, but has instead kept them connected through shared histories, cultural traditions, and a deep respect for the sea that sustains our people. These shared roots continue to provide a meaningful foundation for the friendship and cooperation that Palau and Taiwan continue to strengthen today.
Ambassador Uherbelau said that under President Lai’s leadership, Taiwan’s partnership with Palau continues to embody a people-centered approach, delivering meaningful and lasting impacts for the peoples and communities of both nations. This enduring cooperation is reflected in the many Palauan students who have pursued their education in Taiwan and returned home as skilled professionals contributing to their nation’s development; in the patients who have received exceptional medical care in Taiwan’s leading hospitals and returned home with renewed health and hope; and in the technical experts who have worked hand in hand with Palauan communities to share knowledge, build capacity, and strengthen resilience. These exchanges, he said, represent the true foundation of the relationship: the lasting friendships and bonds between our peoples that grow stronger with each passing year, reflecting the depth and breadth of the partnership Palau and Taiwan share.
Ambassador Uherbelau expressed sincere appreciation for President Lai’s decision, together with Vice President Hsiao, to make Palau among the first destinations of their official visits following the commencement of the administration. He also expressed appreciation for the recent and highly productive visit of the Taiwan delegation led by Minister Lin to the 55th PIF. These visits, he said, are a profound demonstration of the importance President Lai places on the friendship between Palau and Taiwan.
Ambassador Uherbelau said that he begins his tenure with a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to nurturing the friendship entrusted to him. He pledged to work diligently to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, expand opportunities for our peoples, and uphold the shared values that continue to unite our two nations.
