Palau Inaugurates President Whipps for Second Term in Office

TaiwanPlus News

Taiwan’s foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, is leading a large delegation to Palau for the inauguration of President Surangel Whipps Jr. to a second term in office. The Pacific island nation is one of only 12 countries to have formal ties with Taiwan.

Transcript

00:00Here at the country's capital, Palau is inaugurating Sir Angle Whipps Jr. into his

00:04second term as the country's president.

00:08This Pacific island nation is strategically important. It's home to just 18,000 people

00:12but it has a defence agreement with the United States and it's one of just 12 countries

00:17around the world that has official diplomatic relations with Taiwan. As he enters his second

00:24term, Whipps has promised to diversify the country's tourism-dependent economy as well

00:29as protecting the country's environment and natural resources. He's also said he's going

00:34to continue to stand up to China, which he says has been putting pressure on his country

00:39due to its stance on Taiwan.

00:42We are truly grateful for the partnerships that have been strengthened in the last 30

00:49years and over the past four years. We are grateful to the United States, Japan, Taiwan,

00:56Australia and all our diplomatic allies who have worked with us and supported us through

01:05the most difficult times.

01:11Diplomats and dignitaries from more than 30 countries are here at the ceremony. One of

01:15the highest level delegations is led by Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Jialong as Taiwan looks

01:21to boost its presence here in the Pacific. Lin is leading a delegation of more than 50,

01:26including business people looking to invest in Palau.

01:29We are like-minded people and we share common values of democracy, freedom, respect for

01:38human rights, so we work together quite closely.

01:43As he enters his second term in office, Whipps has encouraged more cooperation and more investment

01:48from Taiwan. He's also said that Chinese intimidation against his country is increasing and that

01:54their tactics are changing and that he'll need help from international allies to stand

01:58up to this threat.

02:00Alex Chen and Rick Lowatt in Ngulmud, Palau for Taiwan Plus.

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