President Surangel Whipps, Jr. congratulated Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on his election victory during a video call on Wednesday. Both leaders expressed their hope for a strengthened bilateral relationship which showcases the steady growth of the partnership on the international stage.
The video call comes just two days after another Pacific island nation, Nauru, decided to cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan, bringing the number of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies down to just 12. Taiwan has criticized Beijing for intentionally going after its Pacific allies and called the move a repudiation of democratic values, as it came just days after Lai was elected president.
Lai thanked Whipps for the congratulatory call. Lai says he remembers visiting Palau in November 2022 on behalf of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and witnessing the charm of Palau's marine tourism. Lai says Taiwan and Palau collaborate closely in many areas such as public health, agriculture, clean energy, infrastructure, climate change, education, and women's empowerment.
Lai invited President Whipps to attend his inauguration ceremony in May. Whipps says he has confidence in Lai's leadership and that Palau is committed to freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific region.