Taiwan minister to attend Pacific islands summit events in Palau

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is set to attend events surrounding a major Pacific Islands nations summit in Palau, signaling Taipei's continued diplomatic engagement in a region where China is actively expanding its influence. The visit, scheduled to begin next week, comes at a time of heightened strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.

Lin's office announced his departure for Palau on Thursday, where he will spend a week participating in side events. These include a dialogue meeting hosted by the Pacific Islands Forum secretariat and the Pacific Prosperity Exhibit. The minister's agenda also involves meetings with Taiwan's Pacific diplomatic allies and "other friendly nations." The stated goal is to "exchange views on deepening the partnership between Taiwan and Pacific island nations, as well as jointly maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region."

The visit highlights the delicate diplomatic balance in the region. China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has been steadily reducing the number of Pacific island nations that maintain formal ties with Taipei. Currently, only Palau, Tuvalu, and the Marshall Islands remain as Taiwan's allies in the area. China's growing presence through infrastructure financing and security cooperation has raised concerns among traditional partners like Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The article notes that China's recent missile tests in the Pacific, while alarming, did not result in a unified response from Pacific Island governments, exposing divisions on how to address the escalating strategic competition.

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deepening the partnership between Taiwan and Pacific island nations, as well as jointly maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region