Vice President Hsiao Visits Palau National Museum, Inscribes 'Taiwan-Palau Co-Prosperity, Enduring Civilization'

(Central News Agency, Koror, Palau, June 9) Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim today visited the Palau National Museum and the traditional Men's Meeting House to gain insights into Palau's tribal co-governance and cultural heritage systems. During a tour of a special exhibition on Taiwan's indigenous peoples, she inscribed in the guestbook: 'Taiwan-Palau Co-Prosperity, Enduring Civilization,' demonstrating the shared Austronesian cultural origins and the friendly ties of deepening cultural exchanges between the two nations.

During her visit to Palau, the Vice President toured the 'Men's Meeting House' in the afternoon. Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi, who accompanied her, told reporters that museum staff explained that although it is called the 'Men's Meeting House,' women actually hold the decision-making power. It is the women of the tribe who designate which men are qualified to enter the meeting house.

Deputy Minister Lin explained that inside the meeting house, there are lattice wooden panels, each representing one of the 14 different local tribes. Each tribe has its own panel, symbolizing an official seat and voice within the meeting house. If a tribe's panel is removed, it means that tribe's representative loses the right to participate in deliberations. This design concretely embodies the spirit of equal participation and dynamic adjustment in co-governance among the tribes.

Deputy Minister Lin stated that the spatial layout of the meeting house also reflects its core power structure. In the four corners of the house, there are four dedicated seats for decision-makers from the four highest-ranking tribes to sit and conduct discussions and decisions on core matters. During the visit, a Palauan official joked that modern parliaments, with their comfortable air conditioning, lead to prolonged sessions, and that discussions in a more austere traditional setting might improve efficiency, drawing laughter from the group.

Afterwards, the Vice President went to the National Museum to view an exhibition on the giant earthwork structures of Babeldaob Island in Palau, the 'Special Exhibition on Taiwan's Indigenous Peoples,' and exhibition areas featuring artifacts from the Spanish, German, Japanese colonial periods, and the American trusteeship period.

The Vice President signed the guestbook at the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples special exhibition, writing 'Taiwan-Palau Co-Prosperity, Enduring Civilization.' Before leaving the museum, two international tourists asked for a photo with the Vice President. She kindly agreed and presented them with commemorative chocolates inscribed with 'Taiwan-Palau Friendship.'

During the Vice President's visit to Palau, the Palau Visitors Authority has been posting her daily itinerary on its website, promoting tourism to Palau.

According to information provided by the delegation, the Palau National Museum was established in 1955 and is located in Koror State. It is the oldest national museum in the Micronesia region, with a collection spanning history, art, and anthropology.

After the museum moved to its current location in 2005, it established a permanent exhibition on Taiwan's indigenous peoples, centered on the shared Austronesian linguistic and cultural origins, marking a significant milestone in bilateral cultural cooperation. In recent years, cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Palau have continued to deepen. In 2024, the special exhibition on Taiwan's indigenous peoples was updated, featuring precious artifacts from the Paiwan, Tao, and Saisiyat tribes, and a workshop on artifact preservation was held. The same year saw the first 'Taiwan-Palau Products and Culture Exhibition,' promoting exchanges between artists from both countries.

According to reports, in 2025, both sides will further promote a residency program for Taiwanese artists and overseas internship exchanges for youth, making the museum a key platform for cultural cooperation and youth exchange between Taiwan and Palau. (Editor: Lin Hsing-meng) 1150609