Vice President Feels Palau's Friendship for Taiwan: 'Even Sunburn Turning Me into a Lobster is Worth It'

(Central News Agency, Yapong, Palau, 8th) Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim today, while inspecting the Taiwan Technical Mission in Palau, noted Palau's rich taro food culture and was impressed by the specialty dish of taro combined with cassava flour. She expressed hope that future food exchanges could bridge the distance between the people of both sides. She said that this trip allowed her to personally feel the support and friendship of the entire Palauan government towards Taiwan, adding, "Even if I get sunburned or turn into a lobster, it's all worth it!"

Vice President Hsiao led a delegation to visit friendly ally Palau on the 6th. This morning, she delivered an English speech at the Palau National Congress, witnessed the drone donation ceremony and demonstration. In the afternoon, after attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completion of a Taiwan-government-funded construction project in Ngchesar State, she inspected the farm of the Taiwan Technical Mission in Palau.

After listening to a briefing from Mission Chief Tsai Ming-che, Vice President Hsiao stated that this trip was specifically to understand the concrete results of the Technical Mission's cooperation projects, to further deepen the cooperative relations and friendship between Taiwan and Palau in various fields, and to take this opportunity to commend all team members working on the front lines for Taiwan's diplomacy.

The Vice President said that Palau is the closest of Taiwan's many allies and has always been very supportive of Taiwan. In recent years, both sides have continuously expanded their areas of cooperation, including further collaboration in agriculture, aquaculture, education, and even information technology. She noted that Palau President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. looks forward to expanding the milkfish aquaculture industry, and a suitable location has already been found. The Embassy in Palau and the Technical Mission will conduct a professional assessment to assist Palau with its related development needs.

She pointed out that during various visits on this trip, she observed that Palau is very concerned about the utilization of marine resources and how to balance conservation with the economic needs of local residents. She believes that the technologies introduced by the Technical Mission will greatly benefit the discussions on related topics in Palauan society and future development processes.

Regarding the cultivation results of crops like taro, dragon fruit, guava, and pineapple displayed by the Technical Mission, the Vice President said these fruits and vegetables are very beautiful. She noted that Palau relies heavily on imports for many of its food and daily necessities, which not only leads to higher prices but also increases carbon emissions. The professional assistance of the Technical Mission is of great significance for promoting the development of various local industries in Palau.

Taro is a characteristic crop of Palau. When asked if she would add taro to hot pot, Vice President Hsiao said she doesn't mind it. She mentioned enjoying different forms of taro dishes at almost every meal in Palau. Local residents told her there are over a hundred different varieties of taro in Palau, and she was particularly impressed by a specialty dish made with taro and cassava flour that she tasted on Peleliu Island.

The Vice President laughed, saying that Taiwanese people "add taro to everything," from hot pot to bubble milk tea. She noted Palau's rich taro food culture and expressed hope that in the future, besides deepening technical cooperation, the two sides could also bring their people closer through food culture exchanges.

Furthermore, when interacting with the media at lunch, Vice President Hsiao was asked about the redness on her neck and limbs, which appeared to be sunburn. She laughed and said she had originally hoped to return to Taiwan with a healthy wheatish complexion, but now her skin is "as red as the lobsters I saw yesterday in Peleliu," and her limbs even look like "boiled or grilled lobsters."

She also shared that Palau places great importance on marine conservation and is very concerned about whether sunscreen products affect the marine ecosystem. Therefore, she respected local regulations, using sunscreen products produced locally in Palau that are more environmentally friendly, and was careful not to apply too much.

Discussing the inspiration for the special chocolates she prepared for this trip, Vice President Hsiao said the packaging design for the "Taiwan-Palau Friendship" chocolates was her own concept, completed with the help of AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. She aimed to incorporate the most representative elements of Taiwan and Palau into the design. The Taiwan side includes images of the black bear, pineapple cake, and mango shaved ice, while the Palau side features elements like its marine ecology, national bird, and national flower.

She revealed that because the AI database had insufficient information on Palau's national bird and flower, she specially collected physical photos for the AI to reference. She expressed hope that through sharing the chocolates and cultural exchange, more Palauans could get to know Taiwan, deepening the friendship between the people of the two countries.

Vice President Hsiao emphasized that Palau's vast and beautiful ocean scenery is relaxing, allowing one to not only enjoy natural beauty but also engage in cultural exchanges with local people. She felt the support and friendship of the entire Palauan government towards Taiwan, concluding, "So I think getting sunburned or turning into a lobster is all worth it!" (Editor: Lin Ke-lun) 1150608