The President of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Lai Ching-te, embarked on the “Prosperous South Island, Sustainable Wisdom” journey and delivered a speech at the Palau National Congress in Palau on the evening of the 5th. He expressed gratitude for Palau’s support for Taiwan and hoped that the two countries would continue to work together to contribute to global democracy, peace, and prosperity.
President Lai Ching-te visited the United States territory of Guam en route to the three Pacific allies in the South Pacific. He concluded his transit in Guam on the 5th and arrived at Palau International Airport in the afternoon. President Lai met with President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. at the Palau Presidential Palace and congratulated him on his re-election victory, acknowledging the strong support and affection President Whipps has received from the people in the past.
Palau is the last stop on President Lai Ching-te’s visit to the South Pacific’s three allied countries. President Whipps has repeatedly accused the Chinese Communist Party of pressuring Palau to sever ties with Taiwan. He mentioned that the pressure from the Chinese authorities reached a “new height,” citing travel warnings issued by the Chinese government advising mainland Chinese citizens not to travel to Palau and a cyberattack on Palau in March, both as evidence of Beijing’s pressure to cut ties with Taiwan.
President Lai Ching-te mentioned that during his previous visit to Palau, President Whipps took him to visit ancient battlefields, where he not only understood the importance of peace but also realized the critical role that Palau and Taiwan play in maintaining peace in the Indo-Pacific region. With geopolitical changes impacting the world, both Taiwan and Palau face threats from authoritarianism in the region, and President Lai expressed his strong hope for Taiwan and Palau to cooperate and deepen democracy to jointly resist the expansion of authoritarianism.
During his speech at the Palau National Congress, President Lai Ching-te was joined by President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., Speaker of the House Sabino Anastacio, and Vice President of the Senate Kerai Mariur. President Lai noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of Palau’s independence and the 25th anniversary of the friendship between Taiwan and Palau. Both nations, sharing South Islander ethnicity and culture, have established democracy and prosperity on their respective lands.
President Lai stated that today, they gather to witness the relentless efforts of Taiwan and Palau in pursuing freedom, democracy, and human rights. The people of Palau have shown courage, going through eight referendums to finally establish the Republic of Palau, while Taiwan has transitioned from authoritarian rule through the sacrifices of democratic pioneers and the collective struggles of the Taiwanese people, solidifying Taiwan’s democratic development.
“Taiwan and Palau are important democratic fortresses against the expansion of authoritarianism. We also share experiences in climate change, education, industry, tourism, among other sectors, to bring more benefits to our people, making life more convenient and our nations more prosperous. Taiwan and Palau share a South Islander cultural heritage, we are one family, united in our pursuit of democracy and freedom,” said President Lai Ching-te.
President Lai Ching-te expressed gratitude for Palau’s parliamentary support for Taiwan’s international participation over the years. In March of this year, Palau’s parliamentary representatives supported Taiwan’s participation in the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) at the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Conference. He stated, “Thanks to Palau’s support for Taiwan, we can contribute more in public health, climate change, aviation safety, and combating transnational crime, allowing Taiwan to reach out to the world and the world to embrace Taiwan.”
In recent years, the world has faced challenges of digital transformation, and President Lai emphasized the creation of a “Smart and Sustainable New Taiwan” at his inauguration. “Now, Palau will also begin its digital transformation from the parliament, driving the nation’s digital shift,” President Lai said.
President Lai mentioned that they will jointly launch the “Parliamental Digital Transformation Project” in the Senate later, and Taiwan will cooperate with Palau to enhance the parliament’s audiovisual equipment, cybersecurity, and establish an electronic voting system to improve parliamentary efficiency, making it easier for citizens to participate and continue deepening democracy in Palau. He hoped this cooperation would become a model for digital and smart transformation in the South Pacific, propelling Taiwan and Palau towards progress and prosperity together.
President Lai expressed his anticipation for President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. and members of the Parliament to continue leading delegations to visit Taiwan, promoting various exchanges and cooperation to deepen the friendship between the two nations. He once again thanked the people of Palau, the Palau government and parliament for their assistance and support towards Taiwan. “Looking back over a quarter of a century, Taiwan and Palau have jointly achieved many collaborative outcomes. We look forward to continuing to walk hand in hand in the future, letting the world see Taiwan and Palau, upholding the values of democracy and freedom with united strength, and contributing more to global democracy, peace, and prosperity.”
Subsequently, President Lai Ching-te attended the “Palau National Congress Information System Launch Ceremony” with President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., Speaker of the House Sabino Anastacio, Vice President of the Senate Kerai Mariur and Secretary-General of the Office of the President of the Republic of China Pan Meng-an, officially launching the system. In the evening, President Lai was hosted by President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. at a state banquet, where the interaction between the two sides was warm and friendly. President Lai Ching-te concluded the “Prosperous South Island, Sustainable Wisdom” journey, and the delegation boarded a special flight back to Taiwan on the 6th.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) currently maintains diplomatic relations with 12 countries, including two in Central America (Belize and Guatemala), four in the Caribbean (Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), three in the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Palau, Tuvalu), one in South America (Paraguay), one in Africa (Swaziland), and one in Europe (Vatican City).