Members of a Taiwanese delegation who were in Palau to attend the inauguration of Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr and sustained minor injuries in a car accident on Friday night have returned to Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
At about 9pm on Friday (Palau time), a vehicle transporting the delegates was involved in a road accident.
All those who were injured were immediately sent to Belau National Hospital for medical treatment.
Photo: Taipei Times
None of them had serious injuries.
The delegation included Shin Kong Hospital president Hou Sheng-mou (侯勝茂) and Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀), who were medical doctors, so they were able to help take care of the injured, the ministry said.
The ministry did not specify how many people were injured, nor did it provide any details, apart from confirming that the Palau police were investigating the incident.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), who led the delegation to Palau, and Palauan Minister of State Gustav Aitaro also visited the hospital to make sure the injured were okay.
After a short stay at the hospital, those who were injured were discharged and returned to Taiwan along with the rest of the delegation on Saturday, the ministry said.
Lin, on behalf of President William Lai (賴清德), had led the delegation to attend Whipps’ inauguration on Thursday and to congratulate him on winning a second term in office.
Palau is one of 12 states that have diplomatic relations with Taipei instead of Beijing.
Whipps has been supportive of Taiwan since he first took office in 2021 and has repeatedly accused China of pressuring Palau to switch sides by weaponizing tourism.
He secured a second term in office after defeating former Palauan president Tommy Remengesau Jr during the presidential election in November last year.
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