Seasoned Diplomat Andy Kang-I Chen Takes Post as Taiwan’s Ambassador to Palau

By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang

KOROR, Palau (January 16, 2026)— Taiwan’s new resident ambassador to Palau, Andy Kang-I Chen, formally assumed his post Tuesday after presenting his credentials to President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. in a brief ceremony at the President’s Office in the One Stop Shop building in Medalaii.

Chen arrived in Palau on Saturday, Jan. 10, and the credentials ceremony marked the official start of his tenure as the eighth resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Palau.

The presentation of credentials is a key diplomatic step that formally recognizes an ambassador as the official representative of their government to the host country. With the ceremony completed, Chen now assumes full diplomatic responsibilities in Palau, one of Taiwan’s few remaining formal diplomatic allies.

According to the Taiwan Embassy in Palau, Chen is no stranger to the country. He previously visited Palau in mid-December as part of an official delegation led by Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lin Chia-lung. During that visit, from Dec. 18 to 21, Chen was serving as Director General of the Office of Parliamentary Affairs at Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chen brings more than three decades of diplomatic experience to his new role. He joined Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993 and has held a series of senior leadership and overseas postings that span the Pacific, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North America.

Before his appointment to Palau, Chen served as Director General of the Department of NGO International Affairs, where he worked closely with civil society groups to strengthen Taiwan’s international engagement. He also previously led the Office of Parliamentarian Affairs, a key liaison office between Taiwan’s executive branch and lawmakers, giving him extensive experience in legislative diplomacy and policy coordination.

His appointment comes at a time when Taiwan continues to emphasize partnerships with like-minded nations in the Pacific. Palau is one of a small number of countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei, and bilateral ties between the two governments span health care, education, infrastructure, renewable energy and people-to-people exchanges.

As ambassador, Chen is expected to focus on strengthening Taiwan–Palau relations, supporting ongoing cooperation programs and deepening engagement with Palauan leaders, institutions and communities. His extensive background in parliamentary affairs, public diplomacy and international representation is expected to play a key role in advancing shared priorities between the two nations.