President Lai Ching-te set off on a seven-day journey encompassing visits to like-minded partners and Pacific allies Nov. 30, highlighting the government’s commitment to a continued deepening of international links.
In a speech prior to his departure on his first overseas trip since taking office in May, Lai pointed out the Austronesian roots that Taiwan shares with Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands, adding that these allies have supported Taiwan’s international participation in various global contexts.
The president landed at Honolulu International Airport Nov. 30 (local time) and was welcomed by Alexander Tah-ray Yui, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States; Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan; Josh Green, governor of Hawaii; and Rick Blangiardi, mayor of Honolulu. In the morning, Lai attended a ceremony to witness the exchange of gifts between Ljaucu‧Zingrur, head of the Council of Indigenous Peoples, and Dee Jay Mailer, president of the Bishop Museum, the state’s official institution for preserving and teaching the archipelago’s natural and cultural history.
In the afternoon, Lai visited the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to gain insight into the response mechanism for disaster relief, then went to the USS Arizona memorial to pay tribute to those who perished during the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II. The Presidential Office said that he later attended a welcome reception hosted by his compatriots living in Hawaii.
Speaking at the event, Lai conveyed confidence that Taiwan could overcome all challenges and win wider support from international society. Larson, present at the occasion, spoke of efforts by the U.S. to encourage all nations to reinforce contact with Taiwan. In a pre-recorded video, AIT Chair Laura Rosenberger voiced her belief that Lai’s stopover would further consolidate the steady ties between Taiwan and the U.S. (POC-E)
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