Taiwan V.P. visits on Thursday

It has only been 11 years since Belize established relations with the Republic of China on Taiwan, and in that short span of time, the dynamic Asian power has become Belize’s most important financial angel. On Thursday morning the highest-ranking Taiwanese official to ever visit Belize, Vice President Annette Lu, will arrive with a 90-person delegation for a whirlwind 24 hour visit. Lu’s story is a remarkable one. Not only is she one of the most powerful women in a region in which power is traditionally held by men, but she is a long time champion of democracy and feminism. Her outspoken political views earned her over 5 years in prison, during which time she also survived a potentially fatal bout of thyroid cancer. In March, for the first time in its history, Taiwan experienced a change of government…and Annette Lu became the first popularly elected vice president in Chinese history. In making the transition from opposition to ruling party, Lu’s government is moving slowly to establish its own identity. This is the first official trip abroad for the U.S. educated Vice President and she is expected to reinforce the already strong relations between Belize and Taiwan. Immediately following this newscast we will be showing an introduction to Vice President Lu and her government provided by the Taiwanese Embassy.