The US Department of State has announced partnerships with Taiwan on two Palau projects after Washington pledged more than US$150 million for Pacific island nations.
Following the opening of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Palau on Sunday, the department on Tuesday issued a statement titled “Promoting Pacific Prosperity: US Engagement at the Pacific Islands Forum,” which said that the US’ commitment to the security and prosperity of Pacific island nations “is steadfast and enduring, and remains a core pillar of its ‘America first’ foreign policy.”
Meanwhile, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced at the PIF Partners Dialogue on Tuesday that the US would provide more than US$150 million in support to Pacific island nations, including funding for two projects being carried out in Palau in partnership with Taiwan.
Photo: AFP
“The United States’ continued participation in the Pacific Islands Forum reflects the importance we place on the Pacific islands as a vital part of the Indo-Pacific region. When the Pacific islands are stable, secure and prosperous, the United States is too,” the department said.
“Under [US] President [Donald] Trump and [US] Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio’s leadership, we are prioritizing commercial diplomacy and reorienting our foreign assistance programs in the Pacific around championing US enterprise and investments in enabling infrastructure that supports private sector-led economic growth,” it added.
Specific initiatives include the Palau Hospital Relocation project, a partnership of the US, Taiwan, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea to support the development and operation of a new, modern hospital facility in Palau, it said.
Meanwhile, the Drinking Water Sampling project is being carried out by the US Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with Taiwan, it said.
The initiative would help Palau conduct comprehensive sampling of its drinking water sources and wells, while providing training for drinking water operators and environmental laboratory regulators on proper sampling techniques, the statement said.
In Taipei yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said in a separate statement that he welcomed the continued US support for Taiwan’s international participation and Washington’s recognition of Taiwan’s contributions to regional development.
Lin said he looked forward to Taiwan and the US expanding concrete cooperation in the Pacific and other regions.
He also expressed hope that Taiwan-US relations, as well as ties with Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and other like-minded countries, and prosperity and stability around the world would continue to flourish as Taiwan’s “integrated diplomacy” strategy complements the US’ “commercial diplomacy” approach.
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