U.S. backs Taiwan's continued participation in Pacific Islands Forum

Washington, Aug. 28 (CNA) The U.S. State Department said Friday it strongly supports Taiwan's continued participation in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), calling Taiwan a reliable partner, as Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) visits Palau to attend events related to the 55th PIF Leaders Meeting.

Speaking on background in an email, a State Department spokesperson said the United States "strongly supports Taiwan's continued participation in the Pacific Islands Forum, where it has been a development partner for over three decades."

"Taiwan is a reliable, like-minded, and democratic partner that contributes significantly to prosperity and economic development across the Pacific," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the Trump administration is focused on the importance of its Pacific island friends and partners, adding that Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau looks forward to participating in the forum during his third trip to the region.

According to a U.S. State Department news release, Landau will travel to Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Solomon Islands and Kiribati from Aug. 31 to Sept. 11. In Palau, he will attend the meeting alongside the forum's dialogue partners in an effort to strengthen ties between the United States and Pacific island governments.

Meanwhile, Lin is leading a delegation to the Pacific island nation from Aug. 27 to Sept. 3 to attend events related to the Leaders Meeting, and will hold sideline talks with delegations from Taiwan's Pacific allies and other like-minded countries.

The Leaders Meeting is scheduled to take place from Aug. 30 to Sept. 4.

The PIF has 18 member countries, including Palau, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, three of Taiwan's diplomatic allies.

Taiwan has participated in the PIF as a "development partner" since 1993 under the name "Taiwan/Republic of China," and has continued to cooperate and engage with PIF member countries.