Taiwan to have a presence at this year's Pacific Islands Forum

Taipei, Aug. 26 (CNA) Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) will attend a major annual political gathering of Pacific nations in Palau this year, after Taiwan and other non-members of the bloc were barred from participating in last year's event.

During his Aug. 27-Sept. 3 visit to Palau, Lin will attend events coinciding with the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) annual summit, being held in Koror from August 30 to September 4, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a statement Wednesday.

Among them will be the Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue and the Pacific Prosperity Exhibit, according to MOFA.

The exhibit will showcase Taiwan's ongoing efforts to help its Pacific partners in such areas as digital resilience, renewable energy, infrastructure, smart medicine and healthcare, and social empowerment, MOFA said.

During the visit, Lin will also call on Palauan President Surangel Whipps, Jr. and Vice President Raynold B. Oilouch, and check on a Taiwan-funded project in Palau -- the development of the Belau National Hospital's AI system -- to assess the progress made to date and discuss future cooperation, according to MOFA.

Lin will be accompanied by a delegation with representatives from the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce and from Taiwan's energy, technology, food, construction and organic agriculture sectors, who will explore business and investment opportunities in Palau, MOFA said.

Although not a member of the PIF, Taiwan has been a "development partner" in PIF mechanisms since 1993. It usually holds the Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue and other side events alongside the PIF's annual summit.

However, last year's PIF Leaders Meeting, held in the Solomon Islands, was attended only by the bloc's 18 member states.

Partner countries such as China, the United States and Taiwan did not take part after the host nation barred their attendance, citing an ongoing review of the forum's partnership arrangements.

Media reports suggested that the Solomon Islands, which switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 2019, sought to block Taiwan's participation under pressure from Beijing.

China has poached several of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in the Pacific as part of its efforts to expand its presence in the region and isolate Taiwan from the international community.

Currently, only three PIF members -- the Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu -- maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.