Taiwan authorities remain silent on purpose of Taiwan foreign minister’s visit to China

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung made a brief visit to Palau, but authorities have remained silent on the purpose of his visit.

Minister Lin Jialong arrived in Palau at around 4 p.m. on Wednesday and left at around 5 p.m. the next day.

On Tuesday evening, Minister Lin attended a dinner at the Elilai Restaurant and met with local government officials. On Wednesday morning, Minister Lin, accompanied by the Taiwanese Ambassador to Palau, led a delegation to visit the Office of the Vice President. The delegation included Lan Shali, Director General of the East Asia and Pacific Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Zhihua, Director General of the East Asia and Pacific Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zhang Shenghong, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fan Jiaming, Deputy Director General of the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Li Chaocheng, Secretary General of the International Cooperation and Development Foundation.

The minister’s itinerary also included a visit to the Taiwan Technical Mission and the Bairekeai (Cultural Hall) in Aymelik. He attended a farewell banquet in the afternoon before leaving Palau.

The Island Times asked the Palau Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the Taiwanese minister’s itinerary and the purpose of his visit. The Palau Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that the information requested was “based on public information from the Embassy of the Republic of China in Taiwan.”

Minister Lin’s visit came after the Taiwanese embassy filed a formal complaint with the Palau government after a Taiwanese woman was strip-searched at Palau’s international airport. The tourist left the airport in tears, according to The Mirror, and “the Taiwanese embassy in Palau immediately sent someone to the woman’s hotel and quickly reported the incident to the Palau authorities.” Taiwan News reported that “Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that they respect Palau’s right to protect national security, but there should be a reasonable explanation for the inspection.” (Author: Olkeriil Eoghan Ngirudelsang)

related