Taiwan and Palau are set to launch a travel bubble, and the country's president will arrive in Taiwan on March 28 for a visit. He will be the first head of state to visit Taiwan since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. During his time in Taiwan, he will call on President Tsai Ing-wen and take part in promotional activities.
Taiwan and Palau have launched a travel bubble. Palauan President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. will arrive in Taiwan on a charter flight on March 28 for a visit. This will be Whipps' first trip abroad since assuming the presidency. He will also be the first head of state to visit Taiwan since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. During a press conference on March 17, he expressed his confidence in developing Taiwan-Palau tourism.
Now they have confidence in our system, and they know that we are truly COVID free. And I think we now believe that they are truly COVID safe, we all have the confidence.
Whipps is scheduled to arrive on March 28 and stay for five days. He will return to Palau on April 1 with the first tour group to depart Taiwan inside the bubble. During his time in Taiwan, he will participate in tourism promotional activities and visit with President Tsai Ing-wen on March 30. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes the travel bubble will revitalize both countries' tourism industries and strengthen the bilateral relationship. In other news, the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairperson Bob Menendez and Committee on Armed Services member James Inhofe introduced legislation on March 17 to direct the State Department to develop a strategy to assist Taiwan in obtaining observer status at the World Health Assembly. The House of Representatives introduced the same bill in February, and over 60 representatives expressed their support.
Members of the U.S. Congress continue to introduce bills, resolutions, and joint declarations to support us. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its gratitude for the support from the United States.
The Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee issued a joint statement on March 16 that stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its gratitude for this statement, saying Taiwan will continue to cooperate closely with the U.S., Japan, and other countries with similar ideals on the basis of existing strong foundations to jointly uphold the regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
台灣帛琉旅遊泡泡正式啟動，帛琉總統惠恕仁，28號將搭乘專機訪台，這不但是惠恕仁上任以來的首次出國訪問，也是疫情爆發後後台灣首度接待外國元首來訪，惠恕仁17號也在帛琉召開記者會，強調對於開放旅遊台帛都有信心。
帛琉總統 惠恕仁表示：「現在他們(台灣)對我們的系統有信心，他們知道，我們是真的零確診。我們也知道，台灣是真的安全，我們彼此都有信心。」
惠恕仁28號抵台，預計停留五天，4/1號與首發團一起返回帛琉，訪台期間除了參加推廣旅遊的活動，也預計在30號拜會總統蔡英文，外交部表示希望台帛旅遊泡泡能夠重振兩國觀光，深化邦誼。台灣防疫表現受到肯定，美國參議院外交委員會主席孟南德茲，與軍委會議員殷霍夫17號提出要求國務卿擬定策略，協助台灣重新獲得WHA觀察員地位法案，眾議院上個月已有提出同名法案，已經獲得超過60位議員連署。
外交部北美司長 徐佑典表示：「美國國會議員也不斷透過提出法案、決議案、聯名函等方式，來為我聲援。對於美方的這些力挺，外交部表達感謝之意。」
而近來美日2+2會議發布聯合聲明強調維持台灣海峽和平穩定的重要性，外交部也表示感謝，強調台灣將在既有良好基礎上持續與美國、日本及理念相近國家緊密合作，共同努力維護區域和平穩定與繁榮。