Lourdes Leon Guerrero arrived on May 26 and will stay in Taiwan through the week.
Lourdes Leon Guerrero, governor of the U.S. territory of Guam, met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on May 27 during her first visit to the self-governing island since taking office in 2019.
“Guam is the closest U.S. territory to Taiwan and serves as an important bridge connecting Taiwan and the United States,” Lai said during a press conference on Tuesday.
He said their cooperation was “mutually beneficial,” highlighting potential partnerships in pharmaceuticals, hydroculture, manufacturing, recycling, and other industries.
Last month, United Airlines added nonstop flights between the two islands. Guam residents can now visit Taiwan without a visa.
“We are here because we want to continuously provide quality of life to all, so I am … looking forward to a great, strong relationship between Taiwan and Guam in socioeconomic issues, in culture, in marketing, in tourism, and of course, Mr. President, in freedom and democracy,” Guerrero said at the same conference.
The governor arrived on May 26 and will stay through the week, meeting with several levels of officials in Taiwan during that time.
Guam is a key strategic location in the event of a conflict with China, whose leader, Xi Jinping, has ordered the military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027.
Although Taiwan is self-governing and democratically ruled, the Chinese communist regime claims it as its territory. TaiwaneseandU.S. officials have highlighted the 2027 date of a possible invasion, noting the increase in Chinese military exercises around Taiwan.
Taiwan’s former foreign minister has also said the date coincided with the expected timing of Xi’s unprecedented fourth term, adding that an invasion could become more likely if Xi saw it as necessary to cement his power amid domestic turmoil.
