President Lai Arrives in Palau on the Final Leg of His Pacific Tour

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has arrived in the Pacific island nation of Palau on the final stop of his first overseas trip since taking office.

Transcript

00:00Taiwan's President Lai Kuan Yew has just touched down here in Laos, and he's been welcomed

00:05with an extremely enthusiastic welcome.

00:07This is the last stop on his tour of the Pacific.

00:11Laos is one of just 12 countries around the world that recognises Taiwan as a nation,

00:15and China, which says Taiwan is part of its sovereign territory, lashes out their international

00:20recognition of Taiwan like this, and precious countries like Laos, to strict allegiances

00:25to Beijing.

00:26Laos has been a very vocal supporter of Taiwan, often voicing support for the fellow island

00:30nation on the world stage, and it's been open about pressure from China, how it's been weaponising

00:35tourism, sending boats into its borders illegally, and saying Beijing was behind a massive cyber

00:40attack earlier this year.

00:42Home to just 20,000 people, Laos is looking to attract more tourists and move away from

00:48relying on Chinese tourists and Chinese investment.

00:52So while the welcoming Lai here today, there's also hopes that this will bring some big investment

00:57from Taiwan.

00:58John Hsu and Rick Lawrence, in Laos for Taiwan Pops.