Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/03/23
By: Wen Kuei-hsiang, Elaine Hou and Chung Yu-chen

Amy J> Hyatt (right), the U.S. ambassador to Palau, shakes hands with President Tsai Ing-wen.

Koror, Palau, March 23 (CNA) Two scholars believe that the presence of Amy J. Hyatt, the United States ambassador to Palau, at a banquet hosted by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Saturday reflected growing ties between Taiwan and the U.S.

On Friday, Hyatt also attended a state banquet hosted by Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. for Tsai, who is currently in Palau on the first leg of her tour of some of Taiwan’s Pacific allies.

Hyatt was seated at the main table Saturday, and her interaction with Tsai was limited to little more than handshakes and exchanges of greetings.

But Hyatt’s presence showed the United States is putting great emphasis on Tsai’s Pacific visit, Lai I-chung (賴怡忠), an executive board member of Taiwan Thinktank, told CNA.    [FULL  STORY]