Governor met with Director General Richard Lin to establish ties between ROC Taiwan

On July 31, 2023, Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga held a significant meeting with Richard Lin, the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO Hawaii), and American Samoa (AS) Taiwan Business Leader, Sam Lin, at the AS Government Office in Hawaii.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a proposal to continue ROC Taiwan presence in American Samoa, appointing a liaison officer to provide services as a consulate and extend support in the areas of Fisheries, Agriculture, and Aquaculture.

This will be a replacement for the previous representative. During the meeting, Taiwan's council presented a generous offer of scholarship programs in education targeting various commodities, including agriculture, aquaculture, medical, and more, specifically for the people of American Samoa who wish to further their studies.

Governor Lemanu P. S. Mauga expressed enthusiasm about the potential collaboration, stating: "This partnership presents an exciting opportunity to bolster economic and cultural ties between American Samoa and Taiwan.”

He further added: “the proposed field representative and scholarship programs will undoubtedly enhance our relationship and bring substantial benefits to the people of American Samoa and the Taiwan citizens living in the territory."

The discussions in this productive meeting lay the foundation for strengthened bilateral relations, opening doors for mutual prosperity and cooperation between the two regions. The ROC Taiwan previously sent a representative to American Samoa, however it has been difficult to send a replacement.

TECO is the representative office of Taiwan (Republic of China) in various locations worldwide, including the United States. It serves as the de facto embassy, promoting economic, cultural, and other forms of cooperation between Taiwan and the United States.