From 11-22 July, President Tsai visited Taiwan’s Caribbean allies Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia on her “Journey of Freedom, Democracy and Sustainability” (JFDS). The 12-day presidential visit, which included US stopovers in New York and Denver, helped to expand the country’s international space, create mutually beneficial opportunities for the people as well as highlighted how Taiwan Can Help promote the UN Sustainable Development Goals. On 22 July, the president completed her JFDS state visits and issued remarks upon her return to Taiwan. Commenting on her visits to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the Caribbean, the president praised the success of these countries in establishing democracy and gave them a special mention for actively speaking up for Taiwan in the global community. President Tsai stated that “we need to emphasise once again that Taiwan has the ability to help other countries, and needs other countries to speak up on our behalf on the international stage”. She stressed this is the essence of steadfast diplomacy and mutual assistance for mutual benefits.
The president also pointed out that her stop-overs to the US were longer than in the past, and she had more opportunities to exchange thoughts with friends in political and academic circles, think tanks, scientific research organisations, and the business and industrial communities. “Some say this means our bilateral relations have been ‘upgraded’, but I think it would be more accurate to say our relations have been ‘deepened’,” she said. The president concluded by expressing hope that the Taiwanese people can all unite and work together to engage with the world.