Foreign minister to attend Palau president's inauguration: Source

Taipei, Jan. 12 (CNA) Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) will represent Taiwan at Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr.'s inauguration on Jan. 16, a diplomatic source told CNA Sunday.

Lin will lead Taiwan's delegation on behalf of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to congratulate Whipps on winning a second term in office, the unnamed source said.

The foreign minister will be joined by a business and trade delegation headed by Lee Hsien-yi (李賢義), chair of the state-owned Taiwan International Ports Corp., Ltd, the source added.

According to the source, the business and trade delegation will also include representatives from Chunghwa Telecom, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, the Taipei-based Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association, and the government-funded Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund.

Palau is one of 12 states that maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei instead of Beijing.

Whipps has been supportive of Taiwan since he first took office in 2021 and has repeatedly accused China of pressuring Palau to switch sides by weaponizing tourism.

Whipps secured a second term in office after defeating former President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. in Palau's November 2024 presidential election.