Someone on the island hyped "President of Palau brought the US ambassador to Taiwan". Experts: On the contrary, it highlights the difficulties of Taiwan's "diplomatic"

　　[Global Times reporter Tao Xinran and Zhang Xueting] Palau President Whiplash arrived in Taiwan to discuss the "tourism bubble".

It is worth noting that the American ambassador to Palau, Hennessy Nilan, and his wife also accompanied the visit, triggering many interpretations on the island.

　Boasting "the first US ambassador to visit Taiwan after the severance of diplomatic relations"

　　Taiwan’s "United Daily News" stated on the 29th that Hewlett arrived in Taiwan at 4 pm on the 28th for a five-day and four-night visit.

Taiwan's "Foreign Minister" Wu Zhaoxie picked up the plane, and the two elbows to salute.

Whips said that he is very pleased that the "tourism corridor" or "sterile corridor" between the Patais has been opened.

He specifically mentioned that the US ambassador to Palau, Hennessy Nilan and his wife, who traveled to Taiwan this time, said that Hennessy Nilan’s visit to Taiwan is "a very important thing." Without his help, Pa Lao was unable to receive the first batch of vaccines in January and participate in the U.S. rapid epidemic prevention plan. "Today's trip can come true thanks to the joint efforts of Taiwan, Palau and the United States."

　　According to the pro-green Free Newspaper, Hennessey Niland is a professional diplomat of the US State Department. He was stationed in Fiji, Ireland and other places. Before he became ambassador to Palau, he was a political officer in the US Embassy in Australia and also served as a Marine Corps. consultant.

He once stated in an ambassador's hearing in the Senate that Taiwan is an important partner of the United States and that "it is essential to contain China's military expansion. If appointed, I will ensure the friendship between Taiwan, Palau and the United States."

The article stated that when Tsai Ing-wen visited Palau in 2019, Hayat, the then U.S. ambassador to Palau, also appeared at the banquet and interacted with Tsai at the same table.

The US ambassador's visit to Taiwan with President Palau "again shows that the United States has a positive affirmation and recognition of Taiwan's Pacific alliance."

Taiwan’s “Central News Agency” stated on the 29th that this was the first visit to Taiwan by a US ambassador since the “severance of diplomatic relations” between Taiwan and the United States in 43 years.

　　Lin Tinghui, deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan Society of International Law, said that the US ambassador’s visit to Taiwan was “no trivial.” Taipa and the United States have jointly combated the new crown epidemic. For example, Taiwan provided masks and the United States provided Palau with vaccines and medical resources. A cooperative relationship between Taiwan, the United States and a third party".

He claimed that although Palau is a small country, the U.S. ambassador there is also an ambassador extraordinarily and plenipotentiary, and can represent the United States and the president of the United States. "It is not only a concrete manifestation of the Taipei Act, but it can also be seen that the United States is no longer sticking to the Taiwan Relations Act. "Framework", it is not taboo to contact Taiwan through the official relations of the ambassador.

Lin Tinghui also speculated that Taiwan has signed maritime patrol agreements with the three "diplomatic countries" of Palau, Nauru and the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. Palau and the United States have a defense cooperation plan. Taiwan and the United States signed the "establishment of maritime patrol work" on the 26th. "The memorandum of understanding of the group" and Palau's important strategic position in the "Second Island Chain", "does not rule out that in the future, Taiwan will construct a tripartite joint sea tour exercise in the Pacific with AIA and the United States."

　　Expert: Instead, it highlights Taiwan's "diplomatic" difficulties

　　Taiwan’s “China Times” stated on the 29th that the US State Department used to have strict internal restrictions on the exchanges of officials from Taiwan and the United States. In early January this year, former US Secretary of State Pompeo announced the lifting of the restrictions 10 days before leaving office.

Hennessy Niland's visit to Taiwan with Palau's President is to create a new model of "friends of friends is allies".

The article stated that in mid-January this year, the United States originally planned to send Kraft, its then ambassador to the United Nations, to visit Taiwan. Although it was not possible to do so, the United States has gradually taken shape in strengthening exchanges between Taiwan and the United States through its embassies abroad.

The United States' support for the exchanges between Taiwan and Pakistan is also out of strategic layout considerations.

There is also the concern of Taiwanese media that the US-Taiwan move obviously violates the restriction of not having official exchanges and is bound to arouse a strong backlash from the mainland.

　　However, Hennessy Niland followed Palau's visit to Taiwan. Is it really a "diplomatic breakthrough" for Taiwan?

In response to President Palau’s visit to Taipei with the U.S. ambassador, Zhang Wensheng, deputy dean of the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, said in an interview with a reporter from the Global Times that although Hennessy Niland is the official diplomatic representative of the United States, he has been stationed in From the perspective of the Palau ambassador, his rank is not even as good as that of US State Department officials who went to Taiwan in the past.

"If this is considered to be a'diplomatic breakthrough', it would be too exaggerated." Zhang Wensheng said that this shows Taiwan's current "diplomatic" difficulties. The United States has given some "benefits" as if "picking up a life-saving straw" desperately shouting, but Such a low-level diplomat cannot change Taiwan's international political status and the dilemma of foreign relations.

"This highlights the precarious relationship between Taiwan's diplomatic relations. All visits to diplomatic countries require US ambassadors to succeed."

　"Travel bubble" or become "bubble"?

　　According to the plan, Hewlett went to Shin Kong Hospital on the 29th to show condolences to the Palauan people who were hospitalized and received a systemic cancer screening.

According to Taiwan’s United News Network, Palau formally signed an inter-police referral contract with Shin Kong Hospital in 2013. Local patients with acute and severe illnesses can travel to Taiwan for medical treatment and hospitalization with the support of Palau’s government health insurance funds. There have been appointments for several years. 4000 Palau residents were referred to Taiwan for medical treatment.

On the evening of the 29th, Hewlett-Packard held an international press conference for visiting Taiwan, and afterwards accepted a banquet from Taiwan’s "Executive President" Su Zhenchang; on the afternoon of the 30th, he will meet with Tsai Ing-wen and the two parties may discuss infrastructure construction, agriculture, medical care, energy and education, etc. Cooperation in the field; on the 31st, he went to southern Taiwan to inspect aquaculture industry and shipbuilding.

On April 1, Whips and his entourage expected to return to Palau on the same flight as the first group of passengers from “Tapa Travel Bubble” to Palau.

　　Taiwan’s "Central Epidemic Command Center" spokesperson Zhuang Renxiang said on the 28th that Taiwanese people use the "tourism bubble" to travel to Palau and take the form of group in and out, and they cannot leave the group halfway.

The DPP authorities claimed that the "tourism bubble" starting group was sold out, but Taiwan's "Business Times" disclosed that "sales are not as good as expected."

Some industry players said that Palau's tourism resources are mainly water or underwater activities such as diving and snorkeling. Unlike other areas where there are historical sites, cultural and cultural attractions, or places to shop, the coverage of tourists is relatively limited.

In addition, the fare for the seats released by China Airlines is 25,000 yuan (New Taiwan dollars, the same below) without tax. The travel agency designed and launched the four-day, three-night and five-day, four-night itinerary accordingly. The tour fee starts from 70,000 yuan. 90,000 yuan, which is a lot more than the past tour fare, and the passengers participating in the tour must strengthen independent health management for 5 days after returning to Taiwan.

In other words, the guests participating in the starting group “not only need money, but also have a lot of leisure”, and many industry players withdraw because they are worried about “how many such guests”.

"China Times" mentioned that after the announcement of the "Travel Bubble", there were successive changes in flight schedules, temporary overcharge of administrative fees, and changes in open attractions. The daily changes made the industry tired of explaining to consumers.

Some people in the tourism industry bluntly said, "Worry about bubbles becoming bubbles."