Taipei: Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is set to attend the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Palau, marking a return after non-member countries, including Taiwan, were excluded from last year's event.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lin will visit Palau from August 27 to September 3, participating in events parallel to the PIF summit, scheduled from August 30 to September 4 in Koror. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced that Lin will engage in the Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue and the Pacific Prosperity Exhibit. The exhibit will highlight Taiwan's contributions in digital resilience, renewable energy, infrastructure, smart medicine and healthcare, and social empowerment.
During his visit, Lin is expected to meet with Palauan President Surangel Whipps, Jr. and Vice President Raynold B. Oilouch. He will also review the progress of a Taiwan-funded project to develop the AI system at the Belau National Hospital and discuss potential future collaborations. Lin will be accompanied by a delegation from the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce and representatives from sectors such as energy, technology, food, construction, and organic agriculture, aiming to explore business and investment opportunities in Palau.
Taiwan, while not a PIF member, has been a "development partner" since 1993, typically hosting the Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue alongside the PIF summit. However, during the previous PIF Leaders Meeting in the Solomon Islands, only the bloc's 18 member states attended, as partner countries like China, the United States, and Taiwan were barred amid a review of the forum's partnership arrangements.
Media reports indicated that the Solomon Islands, which shifted diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 2019, acted under Beijing's influence to exclude Taiwan. China's strategy in the Pacific has involved isolating Taiwan by establishing diplomatic relations with its allies. Currently, only three PIF members-Marshall Islands, Palau, and Tuvalu-maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.