President William Lai‘s official visit of Pacific island allies

President William Lai‘s first official visit of Pacific island allies went quite well.  In addition to visit Marshall Island, Tuvalu and Palau, Lai also stopped by Hawaii and Guam.  The first nation Taiwan’s president visited is Marshall Island.  Addressing parliament, Lai offered financial support for the national airline Air Marshall Islands.  This is to upgrade its aging fleet.  After arriving in the capital, Majuro, the Taiwanese leader held talks with the government and attended a banquet, Marshallese President Hilda Heine expressed her government’s commitment to “remain a staunch ally” of Taiwan.   “Taiwan and the Marshall Islands share a traditional Austronesian culture, as well as the values of freedom and democracy,” Lai told Heine.    Lai’s next stop is the Pacific nation of Tuvalu.  President Lai was greeted by Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Teo, Governor-General Tofiga Vaevalu Falani.   Two nations signed a joint communiqué on advancing their relationship.  In a joint communique on “advancing the comprehensive partnership,” the two sides agreed to “reassess the ongoing bilateral cooperation projects in order to establish a more durable, lasting and mutually beneficial diplomatic relations.”    In Palau, Lai and Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr inspected a joint exercise in waters near the Pacific island nation where coast guard forces simulated a rescue mission involving a capsized fishing vessel.  Lai emphasized the importance of countries working together on maritime safety and humanitarian rescue. Whipps said the exercise demonstrated that the cooperation between Taiwan and Palau went beyond operational aspects and reflected their shared values and commitments.

During Lai’s two-day visit to Hawaii, Lai was welcomed by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Hawaii Governor Josh Green, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Honolulu Police Department chief Arthur Logan.  President Lai also made a telephone call to former US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi, and met with other US government officials and members of the US Congress.   In Guam, Lai spoke with US congressional leaders, including House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of the Democratic Party and held a videoconference with Republican Senator Roger Wicker.