Taiwan, Saint Lucia reaffirm longstanding ties at National Day celebrations

Taiwan has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Saint Lucia’s development, while Saint Lucia has pledged to continue advocating for Taiwan’s participation in international organisations.

The commitment was highlighted during a reception hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on Friday, October 9, at Sandals Golf and Country Club in Cap Estate, to mark the 115th anniversary of Taiwan’s National Day and celebrate the longstanding relationship between the two countries.

Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, Nicole Su, said the occasion also marked 30 years since Taiwan held its first direct presidential election, reflecting the island’s democratic development and commitment to freedom and human rights.

She thanked the Government and people of Saint Lucia for their continued support for Taiwan’s participation in international organisations, including the United Nations, World Health Organisation (WHO), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“Your solidarity with Taiwan and your voice of concern over the peace and security in our region is heart-warming, and it brings hope to the Taiwanese people,” Su said.

Beyond diplomatic support, Su highlighted Taiwan’s economic and technological capabilities, including its foreign exchange reserves of more than US$594 billion at the end of July and its role in global semiconductor production. She said Taiwan produces more than 90 per cent of the world’s most advanced semiconductor chips, while Taiwanese suppliers produce and assemble more than 90 per cent of AI servers.

Su said the Taiwan Embassy and Technical Mission were working to ensure that both countries benefited from their partnership, under the reception’s theme, “Together as One”.

Existing areas of cooperation include agriculture, public health, information technology, community tourism, education, and youth and women’s empowerment. New projects in the fashion industry, cybersecurity and emergency medical services are also in the pipeline.

She also cited a pilot project to develop a web-based Saint Lucian Creole-English dictionary as a contribution to the preservation of the island’s Creole heritage.

Su said Taiwan had organised workshops to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience among Saint Lucian farmers, professionals, students, teachers, community activists and public officers. About 50 people have travelled to Taiwan to participate in workshops, while 432 students have had the opportunity to study there over the past 19 years. Of that number, 48 arrived in Taiwan in August this year.

The ambassador also spoke about the personal connections that have developed between the two countries, sharing that she had attended the wedding of a Saint Lucian-Taiwanese couple during the summer and knew another couple planning to marry.

She described the relationships as “a joint project of love, and a wonderful testament that our two countries are now one big family”.

Senior Minister Stephenson King, who read a statement on behalf of Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, praised Taiwan’s economic transformation and its continued assistance to Saint Lucia.

He said Taiwan’s support had helped make several critical economic and social interventions possible, citing cooperation in education, healthcare, agriculture, information and communications technology, infrastructure, disaster relief, climate resilience, and youth and women’s empowerment.

In healthcare, the partnership has included medical missions, biomedical equipment and training for health personnel, as well as assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. In agriculture, Taiwan’s technical missions have introduced new crop varieties, supported farmer training and helped improve post-harvest practices.

King also pointed to the Taiwan Scholarships Programme and the Constituency Development Programme as examples of the partnership’s reach.

“What makes this partnership special is that Taiwan’s assistance is not abstract; it is injected directly into our economy, into our schools, into our clinics, into our farms, and into the hands of our people,” he said.

King reaffirmed Saint Lucia’s commitment to supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations and its bid for a place in the United Nations.

He cited the opening of Saint Lucia’s embassy in Taipei on June 4, 2015 — the country’s first embassy in Asia — as a symbol of its commitment to the relationship. He also noted that Pierre reiterated Saint Lucia’s position in his address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 25.

Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet also welcomed the longstanding relationship, describing it as one built on mutual respect, shared democratic values and a commitment to improving people’s lives.

“Your theme tonight, ‘Together As One’, reminds us that the strongest partnerships bring people together through trust and common purpose,” Chastanet said.

The reception also featured performances by the Silver Shadow Performing Arts Academy, Castries Comprehensive Secondary School Music Hub and the Royal Saint Lucia Police Band, alongside Taiwanese cuisine and an exhibition of Saint Lucian wood sculpture.

Taiwan’s National Day, also known as Double Ten Day, is observed annually on October 10 to commemorate the 1911 Wuchang Uprising, which led to the overthrow of China’s Qing Dynasty. The Republic of China was established on January 1, 1912.