Ma embarks on visit to South Pacific allies

President Ma said before his departure to the South Pacific, the first since he took office in May 2008, that his administration's diplomatic operations will not involve any “check book” diplomacy, but rather will focus on sustainable development of friendly relations between Taiwan and foreign nations.

During the seven-day, six-nation tour, Ma and his 90-member entourage will visit the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, the Solomon Islands and Palau.

The delegation will make a 60-minute refueling stopover in Guam on the flight out and a 90-minute stopover on the flight back to Taiwan, where Ma will be received by American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt.

To highlight the close cultural links between Taiwan's aboriginal peoples and people living in the South Pacific, Ma and his entourage will wear costumes decorated with aboriginal totems, the Presidential Office noted earlier that day.

Eight performing artists from the Formosa Aboriginal Song and Dance Troupe are also accompanying Ma on the trip.

The public will be able to get a glimpse of President Ma's trip, which will also highlight Taiwan's foreign aid efforts in the South Pacific region, through video clips, according to the Presidential Office.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ma will release milkfish fry into an aquaculture pond during his visit to Kiribati.

During his visit to the Marshall Islands, he will inspect a Taiwanese mobile medical group stationed there to treat cataract patients.

He will visit an elementary school in Nauru to see how the students' dietary habits have changed as a result of a free breakfast program funded by Taiwan.

In addition, Ma's itinerary will include meetings with his South Pacific counterparts on six issues — medical treatment, aquaculture, vocational training, agricultural cooperation, green energy and cultural exchanges.

His entourage included National Security Council Secretary-General Hu Wei-jen, Presidential Office spokesman Lo Chih-chiang, Foreign Minister Timothy C.T. Yang, Government Information Office Minister Johnny Chi-chen Chiang, Council of Indigenous Peoples Minister Sun Ta-chuan, and Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister Hu Sing-hwa.

Others on the delegation included some business and industry leaders for closer commercial interchange and business cooperation.

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