Taiwan and the U.S. staged the inaugural Pacific Islands Dialogue Oct. 7 in Taipei City, underscoring the commitment of the like-minded partners to advancing the shared vision of a more free and open Indo-Pacific.
The daylong event is seen as an invaluable platform for expanding the reach of Taiwan’s assistance projects and coordinating related initiatives among partner countries. It springboards off the success of the Taiwan-U.S. Global Cooperation and Training Framework, as well as the Pacific Islands Leadership Program, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Hawaii-headquartered East-West Center.
Attendees include MOFA Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu; Sandra Oudkirk, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands; Brent Christensen, director of American Institute in Taiwan; members of the Taiwan diplomatic corps; and academics and experts from across the region.
Wu said during his opening address that Taiwan’s collaboration undertakings with Pacific countries are widely praised. The contributions of the country include sending out agricultural, technical and medical missions, as well as providing scholarships and job training opportunities, he added.
The value of Taiwan’s presence in the Pacific deserves to be recognized worldwide, Wu said. It is time for the country, the U.S. and other democracies to work even closer together in promoting peace, stability, prosperity, sustainable development and rules-based order, he added.
Echoing Wu’s remarks, Oudkirk credited Taiwan for standing shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. in responding to natural disasters, protecting the environment and strengthening rule of law. Such cooperation is expected to extend to the Pacific island nations, she said.
Taiwan is a reliable partner and force for good, Oudkirk said, adding that the U.S. firmly supports its relationships with countries across the region and efforts to create a thriving Indo-Pacific. (YCH-E)
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