Taiwan’s relations with Pacific countries are intricately woven within the framework of political motivations, cultural ties, and the struggle for international recognition. During a week-long Pacific tour that began on November 30, 2024, Taiwan’s Leader Lai Ching-te visited three Pacific allies as well as made transit stops in Hawaii and Guam, shedding light on Taiwan’s diplomatic strategies in the region. These visits, marking Lai’s first overseas tour as Taiwan’s leader, reflected efforts to consolidate Taiwan’s Pacific strategy in the context of tensions with China and its relations with the United States (US).
Taiwan’s relations with Pacific countries largely hinge on its quest for international recognition. The fact that Taiwan is currently recognized diplomatically by only 12 countries has further fueled its pursuit of global support.[1] Lai’s week-long Pacific trip included visits to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, with brief transit stops in US-controlled territories such as Hawaii and Guam. In response to the diplomatically significant visit and Lai’s transit stops, the US underscored its support for Taiwan by holding reasonably high-level engagements. On the other hand, China condemned Taiwan’s transit through US-controlled territories and reiterated the “One China” policy in its statements regarding these visits.
During his Pacific tour, Lai Ching-te pursued several diplomatic strategies, with “transit diplomacy” standing out as the most notable approach to strengthening alliances in the Pacific region. Previous Taiwanese leaders have also employed transit diplomacy, using symbolic visits to Pacific Islands as part of their strategy. In this context, Lai’s brief layovers in US-controlled territories such as Guam and Hawaii represented a significant tactic in Taiwan’s efforts to bolster its diplomatic ties. Such transit diplomacy can be seen as aimed not only at fostering closer relationships with Pacific countries but also at deepening Taiwan’s security relationship with the US. However, this approach has provoked military and diplomatic responses from China, challenging the existing status quo in the region.[2]
Lai Ching-te’s choice of attire, including a Hawaiian shirt worn during his Pacific visits, symbolized the cultural and diplomatic elements of Taiwan’s strategies. The shirt was interpreted as a symbol to emphasize Taiwan’s cultural ties with Pacific communities. Additionally, it was viewed as a diplomatic tool to highlight Taiwan’s shared heritage with Austronesian-speaking communities that extend from Taiwan to Polynesia. Taiwan advocates that the spread of Austronesian languages across a vast region, from Taiwan to Polynesia, underscores cultural connections that could strengthen its relations with Pacific islands. Lai’s visits, in this sense, highlighted Taiwan’s efforts to approach the Pacific Islands through a shared Austronesian heritage. [3]
This emphasis on heritage and symbolism, as showcased in Lai’s wardrobe, aimed to make Taiwan’s diplomacy in the region more friendly and community-focused. However, such symbols often have only surface-level effects in Taiwan’s relations, and they sometimes fall short in establishing profound political connections. Lai’s Hawaiian shirt and the cultural message it carried demonstrated Taiwan’s intent to forge closer bonds with Pacific countries. Nevertheless, diplomacy rooted in symbols and efforts to foster relationships through cultural identity often remains limited in impact compared to sustainable collaborations in the region.
On the other hand, the strategy of transit diplomacy is criticized for reflecting the symbolic nature of Taiwan’s international relations. For instance, Lai’s brief visit to Tuvalu, lasting only a few hours, was perceived as indicative of Taiwan’s symbolic ties with its Pacific allies. Furthermore, in Guam, Lai’s remarks referring to the region not only as “Austronesian” but also as part of the broader “Indo-Pacific” highlighted Taiwan’s balancing act between its cultural and political interests.[4] This rhetoric also mirrored the US perspective on the region. Some critics argue that Taiwan’s focus on such visits for bolstering its international standing often overlooks genuine relationships in the region.
Taiwan’s diplomatic efforts in the Pacific hold immense importance as part of its quest for international recognition and support. At the same time, the geopolitical implications of these efforts cannot be overlooked. China, for instance, reacted to Taiwan’s enhanced ties with the US during its Pacific visit, including Taiwan’s stops in US-controlled territories, with heightened military drills.[5] In China’s view, Taiwan’s interaction with the US in the Pacific carries the potential to disrupt regional dynamics and balance. This situation underscores that Taiwan’s Pacific diplomacy is not merely about cultural and strategic ties but also an issue intricately tied to Taiwan’s relationship with the mainland. In his New Year message, Xi Jinping reiterated China’s position by stating that the people across the Taiwan Strait are part of one family and that the historical trend toward reunification is unstoppable.[6]
Taiwan’s diplomatic endeavors in the Pacific are shaped by cultural ties, strategic goals, and the struggle for international recognition. Against this backdrop, Lai Ching-te’s Pacific tour stands out as a demonstration of various diplomatic strategies during his first overseas trip. Taiwan uses symbolic and cultural ties, such as Austronesian diplomacy, to strengthen its relationships with Pacific allies while also deepening its strategic relations with the US. However, these strategies are accompanied by diplomatic challenges, particularly given China’s regional power and the potential for escalating tensions. Following these visits, Taiwan, under Lai’s leadership, appears determined to strike a balance in its diplomatic and security strategies, solidifying its position on the global stage while continuing the policies of its predecessors.
[1] Marinaccio, J., “The risks of Taiwan’s ‘Austronesian” diplomacy’”, Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre, https://devpolicy.org/austronesian-diplomacy-and-indigenous-rights-in-taiwan-visit-to-the-pacific-20241217/, (Date Accession: 07.01.2025).
[2] “Taiwan’s president Lai visits Pacific Ally Tuvalu”, Voice of America, https://www.voanews.com/a/taiwan-s-president-lai-visits-pacific-ally-tuvalu/7886519.html, (Date Accession: 07.01.2025).
[3] “The risks of Taiwan’s ‘Austronesian’ diplomacy’”, a.g.e., (Date Accession: 07.01.2025).
[4] Ibid.
[5] Wu, T., Wu, H., & Mcavoy, A., “Taiwan’s president arrives in Hawaii for a 2-day stop in the US as part of South Pacific visit”, AP News, https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-us-china-lai-ching-te-hawaii-guam-21442df9a4d2f41827764f67d5701e07, (Date Accession: 07.01.2025).
[6] “Full text of president Xi Jinping’s 2025 New Year message”, 中华人民共和国外交部, https://www.mfa.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xw/zyxw/202412/t20241231_11524948.html, (Date Accession: 07.01.2025).
