Taiwan delegation members injured in car crash in Palau return home: MOFA

Taipei, Jan. 19 (CNA) Members of a Taiwanese delegation who were in Palau to attend the inauguration of President Surangel Whipps Jr. and sustained minor injuries in a car accident on Friday night have returned to Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Sunday.

The accident occurred around 9 p.m. on Friday (Palau time) when a vehicle transporting Taiwanese delegation members was involved in a road accident.

All those injured during the accident were immediately sent to Belau National Hospital for medical treatment. None of them had serious injuries.

Other members of the Taiwanese delegation, namely, Shin Kong Hospital President Hou Sheng-mou (侯勝茂) and Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀), both medical doctors, were also present to help take care of the injured, MOFA added.

MOFA did not say how many people were injured during the accident nor did it provide any details, apart from confirming that the Palau police were investigating.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), who led the delegation to Palau, and Palau Minister of State Gustav Aitaro also visited the hospital to check that those injured were okay.

After a short stay at the hospital, all those injured were discharged from hospital and returned, along with the rest of the delegation, to Taiwan on Saturday, MOFA said.

Lin led Taiwan's delegation on behalf of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to attend the inauguration on Jan. 16 and congratulate Whipps on winning a second term in office.

Palau is one of 12 states with 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.