Outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen attended her final annual Spring Banquet Thursday in her capacity as Taiwan’s president. The event is a reception that the foreign ministry hosts for foreign diplomats and other dignitaries. In a speech, Tsai thanked Taiwan’s formal diplomatic allies for their support. She also described Taiwan as being at the frontline of the defense of democracy, saying it was committed to maintaining regional stability. Meanwhile foreign minister Joseph Wu joked that being the Taiwanese foreign minister was the hardest job, while praising Tsai as the best president in Taiwan’s history.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday held a reception to mark Spring Festival. President Tsai Ing-wen, foreign minister Joseph Wu and the ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Andrea Bowman, who also serves as the dean of Taiwan’s foreign diplomatic corps, raised their glasses in a toast to Taiwan-based diplomats from various countries.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Taiwan stands on democracy’s frontline of defense. We staunchly uphold the values of democracy and freedom and work closely with the global democratic community, doing our utmost to maintain regional peace and stability and advance global prosperity and development. Looking ahead, we hope that Taiwan can join the CPTPP and continue to strengthen economic and trade links with countries across the globe.

Andrea Bowman
St. Vincent and the Grenadines ambassador
After an experience of sadness and loss in our diplomatic community, which came on the eves of this January’s election, we must all bear in mind the irony of these acts of attrition. Continuing to stand with the 172 out of 193 United Nations member states who maintain strategic working relationships with Taiwan is an imperative for all of us in this room.

Bowman described Nauru’s recent switch of diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing and stressed that the setback would only serve to deepen cooperation among democratic countries. When it was Wu’s turn to make a speech, he joked that being Taiwan’s foreign minister is the hardest job in the world.

Joseph Wu
Foreign minister
I would say that this is perhaps the most difficult foreign minister job in the world. Some good American friends would joke with me, asking why the president hates me so much to make me the foreign minister, and for so long. President Tsai. Her steady hands have steered the course of the country in the last eight years. Her record is unbeatable in every regard. Undoubtedly she is the best president my country can ever ask for.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
I want to thank you all once again for walking shoulder to shoulder with us as Taiwan moves forward and engages with the world.

At her last Spring Banquet in her capacity as Taiwan’s president, Tsai expressed gratitude to Taiwan’s formal diplomatic allies for their long-term support and said Taiwan would continue to engage with the world.

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