Taiwan Embassy in Kingstown Marks New Year with Flag-Raising

By Val Matthias Updated 10:47 a.m., Friday, January 2, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines ushered in 2026 with its annual New Year’s Day Flag-Raising Ceremony, highlighting both the dawn of a new year and the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

Ambassador Fiona Fan led the ceremony alongside staff from the Embassy, the Taiwan Technical Mission, and the Overseas Engineering and Construction Company (OECC). As the flag was raised at sunrise, participants offered prayers for the prosperity of Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 

In her remarks, Ambassador Fan emphasized Taiwan’s role as a responsible member of the international community amid a rapidly changing global landscape. She underscored Taiwan’s commitment to working closely with democratic allies to safeguard the rules-based international order and contribute to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. 

The year 2026 marks 45 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in August 1981, when then Prime Minister Milton Cato signed a communiqué with Taiwan Premier Sun Yun-suan. Since then, the partnership has grown to include cooperation in agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, and disaster resilience. Taiwan maintains an embassy in Kingstown, while St. Vincent and the Grenadines operate an embassy in Taipei. 

Over the decades, Taiwan has supported projects ranging from agricultural development through its Technical Mission, to infrastructure works via OECC, and scholarships for Vincentian students. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has consistently voiced support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, including the United Nations. 

Ambassador Fan noted that the anniversary represents both a milestone and a new chapter in bilateral relations. She reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to “values-based diplomacy” and to “prospering our allies,” pledging continued cooperation with the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 

The Embassy’s ceremony reflects the enduring partnership between the two nations, which has weathered global shifts while maintaining a focus on shared democratic values and mutual development. As both countries look ahead, the bond forged over four decades is expected to remain central to their diplomatic and development agendas. 

-END-