Eight leaders to attend inauguration
Eight leaders of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies are to attend president-elect William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration ceremony on May 20, Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said yesterday.
Wu did not name the presidents or prime ministers, saying only that they would lead the delegations from their respective countries, adding that 40 missions from the nation’s diplomatic allies and like-minded countries are to attend the upcoming event.
The total number of guests so far stands at about 400, comprised of lawmakers, speakers and foreign ministers, Wu added.
The minister made the remarks during a legislative session in response to lawmakers asking how many heads of state were set to visit Taiwan to attend the inauguration ceremony of Lai and vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴).
The ceremony would be held in the Presidential Office Building in Taipei and the reception would take place in Tainan, the Presidential Office said.
So far, several heads of state with which Taiwan has diplomatic relations with have publicly said that they would attend Lai’s inauguration, including Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr and Tuvaluan Prime Minister Feleti Teo.
US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul also announced that he would attend the ceremony.
The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Lai-Hsiao ticket won the presidential election on Jan. 13.
Lai’s victory gives the DPP a third straight term in power, the first time a political party has won three consecutive terms since Taiwan’s first direct presidential election in 1996.