Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Lin Chia-Lung made a quick visit to Palau, but authorities have been quiet on the purpose of his visit.
Minister Lin Chia-Lung arrived in Palau on Wednesday at around 4 p.m. and departed the next day at around 5 p.m.
On Tuesday night, Minister Lin attended a dinner at Elilai Restaurant, where he met with government officials. On Wednesday morning, accompanied by Taiwan’s ambassador to Palau, Minister Lin made a courtesy visit to the vice president’s office with his delegation. The delegation included LAN SHA-Li, director general of the Department of East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA); Lin Chih-Hua, section chief of East Asia and Pacific Affairs (MOFA); Chong Sheng-Hung, senior secretary (MOFA); Fan Chia-Ming, deputy director general of the Protocol Department (MOFA); and Li Chao-Cheng, secretary general of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF).
The minister’s itinerary also included visits to the Taiwan Technical Mission in Aimeliik and Bai Rekeai (cultural meeting house). He attended a farewell banquet in the afternoon before departing Palau.
Island Times inquired about the Taiwanese minister’s itinerary and the purpose of the visit from Palau’s Ministry of State. The ministry responded that the information requested was “disclosed information as per the Embassy of the Republic of China, Taiwan.”
Minister Lin’s visit came just 44 days after a Taiwanese woman was strip-searched at Palau’s international airport, prompting Taiwan’s embassy to launch an official complaint to the Palau government. According to Mirror News, the tourist left the airport in tears, and the “Taiwanese embassy in Palau immediately dispatched personnel to the woman’s hotel and swiftly raised the issue with Palauan authorities.” TaiwanPlus News reported that “Taiwan’s foreign ministry responded saying that they respect Palau’s right to protect its national security but that inspection should have a proper explanation.” .” (By: Olkeriil Eoghan Ngirudelsang)