President of the Republic of China, Lai Ching-te, visited the three friendly nations in the South Pacific and arrived in the United States territory of Guam on the evening of the 4th. Today (5th), he was invited to attend a breakfast meeting with Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero of Guam. Lai Ching-te emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation among like-minded democratic countries and regions in maintaining democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
President Lai Ching-te’s “Prospering the Southern Islands, Sustainable Wisdom” tour concluded its second stop in Tuvalu (also known as Taiwan’s spelling of Tuvalu). Following his transit through Hawaii, the President arrived in Guam on the 4th and stayed overnight. Ambassador to the United States from the Republic of China, Yu Da-kuo, and Ingrid Larson, Executive Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), welcomed President Lai.
Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero and her husband Jeffrey A. Cook, Chief of Staff Jon Calvo, and Protocol Officer Joseph Shinohara greeted President Lai with flower garlands before boarding. Governor Guerrero expressed that Taiwan has always been a close friend of Guam. Through sister city agreements with three cities in Taiwan, the two sides have maintained a very friendly relationship. Governor Guerrero invited President Lai to a breakfast tea gathering at the Governor’s Mansion on the morning of the 5th. Subsequently, President Lai and his delegation drove to their hotel.
According to Central News Agency, President Lai Ching-te attended the breakfast meeting at the Governor’s Mansion in the morning and delivered a speech. He greeted in Chamorro, the language of Guam, saying “Hafa Adai! (Hello)”. President Lai thanked Governor Guerrero for her support to Taiwan. He noted the increasing exchanges between Taiwan and Guam, such as the recent resumption of direct flights to Guam by Taiwan’s China Airlines and United Airlines’ announcement to launch the “Taipei-Guam” route in April next year, with other Taiwanese airlines also working to promote direct flights.
President Lai mentioned that Taiwan currently has several hospitals providing medical referral services for patients from Guam. Both he and the Governor come from a medical background, and they look forward to closer cooperation on public health and medical services between Guam and Taiwan.
Moreover, President Lai highlighted the great potential for cooperation between Taiwan and Guam in aquaculture, hydroponic agriculture, construction engineering, and alternative energy. He emphasized the importance of talent development and expressed his hope for continued collaboration in education and culture with Guam. He specifically thanked Governor Guerrero for her contributions to the bilateral relations between Taiwan and Guam, including assisting in the re-establishment of a Taiwan office in Guam and promoting sister city agreements between Guam and Taoyuan and Taichung.
President Lai emphasized that Taiwan and Guam share the values of democracy and freedom. Recent studies and archaeological findings have shown that the Chamorro people of Guam and Taiwan’s indigenous peoples belong to the Austronesian language family, fostering a closer relationship between the two.
President Lai described Taiwan and Guam as a family and like-minded partners. In the face of the expansion of authoritarianism, he stressed the importance of unity and cooperation among like-minded countries and regions to safeguard democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
President Lai emphasized that both Taiwan and Guam are located in the first island chain of the Indo-Pacific region and should stand more closely together to confront the threat of authoritarianism and contribute more to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
Amid reports that Beijing may initiate a new round of military exercises against Taiwan as soon as this weekend, Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council of the Republic of China, Chiu Chui-cheng, stated that China’s military threats towards Taiwan would only lead to a further drift between the two sides.
President Lai’s carefully-prepared gifts for today were thoughtful, including Taiwan’s orchids and a painting of a water buffalo, favorites of Governor Guerrero. In the early days of Taiwan and Guam, water buffalo were essential animals, while orchids and water buffalo are significant symbols of Tainan City, where President Lai previously served, sparking lively exchanges on the landscapes, sights, and cuisine of Taiwan and Guam. When Governor Guerrero shook hands with the President, she handed him a commemorative coin from the Governor’s office, symbolizing enduring blessings and friendship.