Taiwan pledges closer cooperation with Pacific allies at PIF gathering

Taipei, Sept. 3 (CNA) Taiwan and its three diplomatic allies in the South Pacific -- Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands -- signed a joint statement Wednesday pledging to work more closely for the betterment of the region, as Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) concluded a visit to Palau to attend a major annual gathering of Pacific nations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Thursday.

During the 30th Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue, Lin held talks with Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr., Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine and Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo on strengthening Taiwan's relations with the three countries and jointly safeguarding peace, stability and prosperity in the region, according to a MOFA press release.

During his stay in Palau from Aug. 27 until early Thursday, Lin was also invited to attend the opening ceremony of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders' meeting, MOFA said.

Taiwan typically holds the Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue and other side events in conjunction with the PIF's annual summit, but rarely participates in the forum's official meetings.

Meanwhile, Lin and Whipps Jr. also visited several Taiwan-funded projects in Palau, including an artificial intelligence system at Belau National Hospital, a new golf park and the launch of a Taiwan-Palau Hydrogen Initiative, as well as the opening of solar power and energy storage systems at the consolidated government service center, MOFA said.

During Lin's visit, the U.S. State Department announced that it is working with Taiwan and other partners to support the development and operation of a new hospital facility in Palau, and to conduct a comprehensive drinking water sampling project covering drinking water sources and wells across the island, according to MOFA.

Although Taiwan is not a PIF member, it has been a "development partner" of the forum since 1993.

Lin's latest participation in PIF-related events in Palau followed Taiwan's and other non-members' exclusion from last year's event in the Solomon Islands.

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.

Currently, only three of the 18 PIF members -- the Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu -- maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.