Taiwan-Palau Friendship Chocolate Leads the Way: Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim Cheers for Taiwan Team at Palau Baseball Field

(Central News Agency reporter Wen Guixiang, Koror, Palau, June 6) Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim today led a delegation to visit friendly ally Palau and was greeted by Palau Vice President Raynold Oilouch. Upon learning that Taiwanese athletes were competing locally, Vice President Hsiao immediately added an itinerary to go to the baseball field to cheer for Team Taiwan. She presented commemorative chocolates symbolizing "Taiwan-Palau friendship" to the players, thanking them for their enthusiastic participation in exchanges with the allied nation.

Vice President Hsiao launched the "Palau Glory Project" today, marking her first official visit to friendly ally Palau since taking office. The delegation departed from Taoyuan International Airport at noon and arrived at Palau International Airport around 5 PM local time. Vice President Oilouch and Republic of China (Taiwan) Ambassador to Palau Chen Kang-yi boarded the plane to welcome Vice President Hsiao.

The welcome ceremony was simple yet dignified. Palauan youth played conch shells to welcome her. Upon disembarking, Vice President Hsiao was presented with welcoming flower leis by Palauan representatives. The Palau police honor guard saluted, and overseas compatriots residing in Palau waved the flags of both countries in welcome. Vice President Hsiao walked over to shake hands with each person and decided on the spot to "add" an itinerary.

During the greeting, Vice President Oilouch mentioned to Vice President Hsiao that the Taiwan International Baseball Exchange and Development Association was participating in the "2026 Taiwan-Palau Baseball Exchange Game" in Palau. Vice President Hsiao, a baseball enthusiast, decided to head straight to the baseball field to cheer for the players. However, the game had already concluded by the time she arrived. Nevertheless, Vice President Hsiao still shook hands with each player.

Vice President Hsiao expressed that she had wanted to watch the game but miscalculated the time. She said she was very happy that the players came to exchange with the Palau baseball team. Taiwan has been enhancing the competitiveness of the Palau team through exchanges, and the Palau baseball team won the championship at last year's Pacific Mini Games. She expressed deep gratitude for everyone's enthusiastic participation in exchanges with the allied nation.

For this trip, Vice President Hsiao specially prepared commemorative chocolates symbolizing "Taiwan-Palau friendship." She distributed them to the baseball players on-site and also shared the chocolates with fellow passengers during the flight to Palau, sharing the joy of deepening Taiwan-Palau ties and the rare缘分 (fate/destiny) of being on the same flight.

Vice President Hsiao is scheduled to have a meeting and dinner with Vice President Oilouch at her hotel this evening to exchange views on a wide range of bilateral issues of mutual concern.

In the evening, Vice President Hsiao posted on Facebook that her first stop upon arriving in Palau was the baseball field to cheer for the Taiwan and Palau baseball teams about to play a friendly game. She pointed out that baseball is a sport beloved by the people of both Taiwan and Palau, and that there are many ways to conduct diplomacy. She believes that making friends through sports via exchange games can further enhance the profound friendship between Taiwan and Palau. (Editors: Lin Kelun, Yang Kaixiang) 1150606