【Epoch Times News, August 28, 2026】Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lin Chia-lung, led a delegation to visit Palau on the 27th to attend activities related to the Pacific Islands Forum summit and meet with the President of the Republic of Palau, Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. Lin expressed the hope to deepen the Taiwan-Palau partnership and expand trade and tourism between the two countries.
Minister Lin Chia-lung stated in an interview with the media at Taoyuan International Airport that this delegation’s visit to Palau is for participation in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) as the two nations are development partners and Palau is one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies. Palau is also hosting the “Pacific Prosperity Exhibition,” showcasing initiatives like the Taiwan-US-Japan-Australia Partnership that promote cooperation in the Pacific region.
Taiwan not only sent a government delegation but also business representatives to encourage investments in Palau. Minister Lin highlighted Palau’s proximity to Taiwan and its natural beauty, emphasizing the importance of participating in international conferences to boost investment and trade in Palau. He looks forward to fostering robust tourism between Taiwan and Palau, as Palau hosts the Pacific Islands Forum, providing a platform for Taiwan to engage with numerous countries for collaboration.
Minister Lin Chia-lung shared on Facebook his visit to the Palau National Hospital, where he learned about the achievements of bilateral medical cooperation and expressed his desire to enhance collaboration catering to local needs and advance smart healthcare partnerships. During the evening, he attended a dinner hosted by President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., acknowledging the deepening connections between Taiwan and Palau in health and industry sectors.
Grateful for the warm reception by Palau’s Minister of State, Gustav Aitaro, and the newly appointed Palau Ambassador to Taiwan, Gaafar J. Uherbelau, Minister Lin proceeded with the delegation’s visit. Accompanied by Palau’s Vice President and Minister of Health, Raynold Oilouch, they visited the Palau National Hospital to witness the successful outcomes of bilateral healthcare cooperation and engage with the medical team from Taipei’s Mackay Hospital.
Minister Lin disclosed that Palau is planning for a new national hospital, and Taiwan is eager to integrate experiences in smart healthcare, healthcare information systems (HIS), talent development in the medical field, and more to meet Palau’s developmental needs. The goal is to deepen cooperation across hardware infrastructure, medical services, digital technologies, and talent cultivation to make Taiwan a vital partner in safeguarding the health of the Palauan people.
Furthermore, on the same evening, Minister Lin engaged in discussions with President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., the Palau government officials, local traditional leaders, and Taiwanese business representatives to exchange views on future collaborations while savoring Palauan cuisine.
Minister Lin emphasized the importance of inviting representatives from Taiwan’s business sector to Palau, aiming to facilitate a firsthand understanding of local developmental needs and potential investment opportunities. By bridging Taiwan’s industrial strengths with Palau’s growth requirements, the collaboration between government and private sectors will be further strengthened to build a healthier and more prosperous future for both countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) stated that Minister Lin Chia-lung led the delegation to the Republic of Palau from August 27th to September 3rd to participate in activities related to the Pacific Islands Forum summit. These activities include the 30th Taiwan/Republic of China-Pacific Islands Forum National Dialogue Meeting organized by the PIF Secretariat and the “Pacific Prosperity Exhibition” hosted by Palau, showcasing Taiwan’s cooperation in digital resilience, renewable energy, infrastructure, climate adaptation, smart healthcare, and social empowerment in the Pacific region.
The Ministry mentioned that during the visit, Minister Lin Chia-lung will engage in sideline discussions with representatives from Taiwan’s allies in the Pacific region and other friendly countries to deepen Taiwan’s partnerships with Pacific Island nations and exchange ideas on maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.