The vicepresidential entourage made a transit stop in Houston, Texas en route to El Salvador , being accorded a warm welcome by William Brown, acting chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan. During the three-day stopover, VP Lu met with several U.S. lawmakers, toured NASA headquarters and participated in dinner banquet hosted by Taiwanese expatiates.
In El Salvador, VP Lu was received in audience by Salvadoran President Elias Antonio Saca. President Saca reaffirmed his country's staunch support for the ROC, promising that his government's backing of Taiwan's cause will never waver.
Meeting with President Saca of El Salvador
晉見薩爾瓦多薩卡總統 (Photo: Luis M. Chong L.)
Audiencia con el presidente Saca de El Salvador
During a speech delivered at the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, Lu told Salvadoran parliamentarians that the people of Taiwan would never yield to China's threats or saber-rattling, despite its ceaseless coercion and tricks aimed at compelling Taiwan to surrender to its demands.
"Beijing has 710 ballistic missiles pointed at Taiwan. Now its ’rubber seal-parliament’has adopted the so-called 'anti-secession' law to authorize the use of force to annex Taiwan," Lu said, adding that the international community should not sit idly by, and should instead take concrete action to condemn Beijing's ill-intentioned legislation.
VP Lu and her entourage attended a seminar exploring the feasibility of building a "Taiwan Park" industrial zone in the host country. At the seminar, the Vicepresident said that this was her third visit to El Salvador, and that she came with friendship the first time, with best wishes the second time, and this time she came to share Taiwan's dreams and experience.
Salvadoran Vice President Ana Vilma Albanez de Escobar promised that her country would provide all necessary assistance to the investment project. She explained that El Salvador had signed an FTA with countries such as the United States and Canada that would help Taiwan business concerns make inroads into the North American market.
VP Lu was given an honorary doctorate at Dr. Jose Matias Delgado University. While delivering a speech there, Lu announced that Taiwan would offer full scholarships to three students from the school every year to pursue a master's degree in Taiwan.
Presiding press conference with Salvadorean VP
中薩兩國副總統記者會 (Photo: Luis M. Chong L.)
Presidiendo rueda de prensa con la Vicepresidenta salvadoreña
After El Salvador, VP Lu visited Guatemala, where she received the red-carpet treatment, complete with full military honors. Guatemalan Vice President Eduardo Stein and many other senior officials, as well as ROC Ambassador Francisco H. Ou, were on hand to greet Lu and her entourage at the airport.
At the Guatemalan Congress, VP Lu urged the Central American country to pass a resolution to protest China's recent legislation targeting Taiwan. "As Taiwan is facing a mounting threat from China, we need your support. I hope the Guatemalan Parliament can take concrete action to support our cause by passing a resolution condemning China's ill-intentioned legislation," Lu said, adding that the international community should condemn such a provocative act.
In recognition of Lu's contribution to boosting bilateral ties between Taiwan and his country, Jorge Mendez Herbruger, Chairman of the Guatemalan Congress, decorated VP Lu with a medal.
With municipal authorities from Antigua, Guatemala
與安地瓜市府官員合照 (Photo: Luis M. Chong L.)
Con las autoridades municipales de Antigua, Guatemala
The most important event in her visit to Guatemala was a regional meeting of the Democratic Pacific Union (DPU), with the participation of official delegates from 12 Latin American countries. During the meeting, VP Lu exchanged opinions with her counterparts from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The informal meeting took place on the sidelines of the DPU meeting.
VP Lu returned to Taiwan on March 24, after making a stopover in Miami, Florida.
