A virtual focusing on the ways Taiwan and the U.S. can expand Pacific islands cooperation in tandem with other regional stakeholders was staged April 16 by Washington headquartered think tank The Heritage Foundation with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Department of State.
Involving MOFA Deputy Minister Tien Chung-kwang; Sandra Oudkirk, U.S. senior official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and deputy assistant secretary of state for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands at the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs; and officials from Taiwan allies Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu and Marshall Islands, the event demonstrates the rock-solid commitment of all parties to forging a free and open Indo-Pacific.
According to Tien, Taiwan is working with the U.S. in fast-tracking post-pandemic regional economic recovery. In addition, greater efforts will be dedicated to strengthening collaboration with Pacific island partners as illustrated by the memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a coast guard working group recently signed by Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. and American Institute in Taiwan, he said.
Taiwan is also willing and able to join the U.S. in combating climate change and assisting allies and friends in the region with realizing clean energy projects, Tien said. Both sides share the values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, and no effort will be spared in deepening the enduring the partnership via such mechanisms as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework while promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Echoing Tien’s remarks, Oudkirk said bilateral relations are going from strength to strength following the new guidelines for U.S. administrative sector interactions with Taiwan counterparts recently issued by the Department of State. This synergy is expected to further advance joint cooperation with countries in the region, as well as via platforms like the Pacific Islands Dialogue, she added.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said “Deputy Minister Tien & Sandra Oudkirk, U.S. @APEC senior official & DAS @USAsiaPacific, identified areas for more #Taiwan-#US cooperation on strategic issues in the #PacificIslands during the @Heritage virtual. Many thanks to @WalterLohman for hosting the enlightening event!” (YCH-E)
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