Taiwanese President, Lai Ching-te, arrived in the capital of the Marshall Islands, Majuro, on Tuesday (December 3) for a visit. President Lai will meet with the Speaker of the Marshall Islands Parliament, Brenson Wase, and deliver a speech at the Parliament. Following that, he will also meet with President of the Marshall Islands, Hilda Heine, and Cabinet ministers.
When President Lai arrived at Majuro airport, he mentioned the shared culture between Taiwan’s indigenous peoples and the first settlers of the Pacific islands. He stated, “Taiwan and the Marshall Islands share a common traditional Austronesian culture, as well as values of freedom and democracy.”
During the meeting between President Lai and President Heine of the Marshall Islands, they discussed their close relationship, with President Lai expressing, “We are like a family, we are supportive partners of each other.” He looks forward to witnessing cooperation plans between the two countries to improve the livelihoods of their respective people.
President Heine mentioned that the Marshall Islands have defense and financial agreements with the United States, and also receive significant climate change projects and infrastructure aid from Taiwan. These factors will further enhance the relationship between the two countries. She stated, “Your government and people are very close to us, and deeply loved by us.”
President Lai’s current trip, titled “Prosperous Austronesian, Sustainable Wisdom,” is his first overseas visit since taking office in May.
In his visit to the first stop – the Marshall Islands, he will attend a welcome tea party hosted by Speaker Wase and the groundbreaking ceremony of a government building project. Later, he will attend the opening ceremony of an artificial intelligence and telemedicine center at the Majuro Hospital, inspect market activities involving the Marshall Islands and the Taiwanese technical mission stationed there. In the evening, he will also attend a state banquet hosted by President Heine.
President Lai will stay in the Marshall Islands for less than 24 hours, and he is scheduled to depart at 8:10 a.m. local time on the 4th to his next diplomatic visit destination, Tuvalu.
The Marshall Islands, which has had diplomatic ties with Taiwan for 26 years, is currently one of the three remaining diplomatic allies of Taiwan in the Pacific region.
Earlier this year, Republic of Nauru announced the termination of diplomatic relations with Taiwan just two days after the presidential election, but the Marshall Islands reiterated through a statement: “The friendship between the Marshall Islands and the Republic of China (Taiwan) is solid as a rock and will continue to withstand the test of time,” and emphasized standing with the Taiwanese government and its people.
Comprising both large and small atoll islands, the Marshall Islands are located approximately midway between Australia and Hawaii, with a population of about 38,000 people, mostly descendants of the Marshallese, with a minority of American descent.
Since gaining independence in 1986, the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the United States, where the U.S. is responsible for the country’s defense, and the economy is heavily reliant on the U.S., with over 80% of government revenue coming from U.S. grants.