Your one-stop shop for all of Taiwan’s diplomacy efforts. If there’s been a bilateral meeting, a trade agreement, a cultural exchange or an informal dialogue, this is where you’ll find it
1. U.S.: New Foreign Aid Goes Through After Delays, a Congressional Delegation Arrives in Taiwan and Soft Power Successes in Time Magazine and Rupaul’s Drag Race
Taiwan and the Indo Pacific region will receive around $8 billion (around $260 billion New Taiwan dollars) in foreign aid from the U.S. after the U.S. House of Representatives approved an overall foreign aid package for Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel on Saturday and the Senate passed the legislation yesterday. Taiwan’s military said it will discuss how to use the funding with the U.S.
A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of meetings with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), president-elect Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮). They plan to discuss Taiwan-U.S. relations, the situation in the Taiwan Strait and regional security.
Lai was announced as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024.
Taiwanese contestant Nymphia Wind, real name Leo Tsao (曹米駬), was congratulated by President Tsai after winning the high profile U.S. TV talent show RuPaul’s Drag Race. Tsao dedicated the victory to Taiwan.
2. Europe: A New EU Representative in Taipei and a Delegation From Ukraine
The EU’s new representative to Taiwan has been named as Lutz Guellner, who currently acts as head of division for strategic communications, task forces and information analysis in the European External Action Service. Guellner’s official position will be head of the EU’s Office to Taiwan.
A delegation from Ukraine arrived in Taiwan to discuss Ukraine’s reconstruction on April 15. It included government officials, medical professionals and workers from an e-procurement platform. It met with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, a non-profit organization.
On April 11, Lithuania donated $50,000 (around $1.6 million New Taiwan dollars) to Taiwan’s earthquake relief fund. Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said, “We admire Taiwan’s resilience and also appreciate its solidarity in rebuilding Ukraine.”
The former prime minister of Kosovo, Avdullah Hoti, traveled to Taiwan last week to meet president-elect Lai, senior government officials and local businesses. He also met with Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) and Foreign Minister Wu. Hoti and his delegation came to discuss closer bilateral relations.
3. Japan: A G7 Press Statement on Peace Across the Taiwan Strait, Some Warmer Words on China in Foreign Policy Document
Japan’s 2024 Diplomatic Bluebook, setting out its approach to foreign policy, has reinstated the phrase “mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests” with regards to China for the first time in five years, according to The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper. It did, however, also highlight what it called unprecedented strategic challenges with regards to China’s military activities.
A G7 press release signed off by Japan, the U.K., the U.S., Italy, Germany, France and Canada restated “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to security and prosperity for the whole international community and we call for peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.”
Akie Abe, the widow of former Japanese president Shinzo Abe, will attend Lai ’s presidential inauguration on May 20.
4. Diplomatic Allies: Eight Leaders to Attend Lai’s Inauguration, Accusations About China Imposing ‘Secret Conditionality’ on Taiwan’s Allies at the U.N.
Eight leaders of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies will attend Lai’s inauguration ceremony on May 20, according to Foreign Minister Wu, who did not specifically name which leaders.
Former Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights employee Emma Reilly told the U.K.’s House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee that China imposes “secret conditionality” so that money it donates to U.N. does not go to allies of Taiwan.
Taiwan will work with the U.S., Australia and Japan on an undersea cable project for Tuvalu, according to Ambassador Andrew Lin (林東亨). Currently Tuvalu relies on satellites for its internet connections.
President Tsai received a delegation from the Paraguayan Senate on April 16.
5. India: Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in India Opens
The Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in India opened April 22. Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in Delhi President Ho Chun-hsin (何俊炘), who will head the new chamber, said it would offer information on daily life and investment for Taiwanese entrepreneurs in India.
6. Additional Developments: More Earthquake Donations, 40 Delegations Set to Attend Lai’s Inauguration
In total, more than 40 delegations are set to attend Lai’s inauguration ceremony.
Following on from Japan donating to Taiwan’s earthquake relief efforts, South Korea announced on April 11 that it had also made a donation of $16 million New Taiwan dollars.
Foreign Minister Wu attended a Holocaust memorial event alongside President Tsai, Israel in Taipei representative Maya Yaron, an Israeli House of Representatives delegation and German Institute in Taipei Director General Jorg Polster. President Tsai also received an Israeli parliamentary delegation in Taipei.
As counting continues following the Solomon Islands election (held April 17), incumbent Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare leads the count but has not secured an outright majority of seats in parliament, meaning he would need to work with independents to form a government. This is the first election since the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China and where rival candidates for the presidency had said that “dual recognition” of both China and Taiwan should be considered.
Thailand donated $1 million New Taiwan dollars (around $30,966) to Taiwan’s earthquake relief fund.
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