Pacific Islands Leadership Program kicks off in Taipei

2025/08/29

The 2025 Pacific Islands Leadership Program with Taiwan got underway Aug. 25 in Taipei City, underscoring the government’s commitment to expanding ties with partner countries in the region, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
 
During his opening remarks, Vice Foreign Minister Ger Bau-shuan said Taiwan is an ethnically diverse society with rich cultural and linguistic heritage. The country has close cultural links across the Pacific, he said, citing the shared roots of local Indigenous languages, diets, tattoos and weaving with those of other Austronesian groups in the region.
 
Equally important, Ger emphasized that all islands in the Pacific face the same climate change challenges and geopolitical tensions. Taiwan is committed to safeguarding regional security and helping its partners in areas spanning capacity building, environmental sustainability and democratic governance, he added.
 
Tuvalu Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae said Pacific island states are all stepping up regional cooperation amid geopolitical developments, while Cassailis Jarom from the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands thanked Taiwan for supporting regional development to uphold peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
 
American Institute in Taiwan Deputy Director Karin M. Lang said the Indo-Pacific remains a core of U.S. diplomatic policies, adding that Washington continues to promote regional resilience and cooperation through initiatives such as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework. She anticipated that program participants would build connections with Taiwan, expand trilateral cooperation and contribute to regional prosperity and security.
 
According to the MOFA, 23 participants from eight countries and territories will take part in courses on topics such as Austronesian studies, environmental sustainability, international politics, medical cooperation and regional security, as well as visit an Indigenous Paiwan tribal village in Pingtung County.
 
In line with the government’s integrated diplomacy approach, the MOFA teamed up with the Council of Indigenous Peoples and invited three young Indigenous Taiwanese individuals to take part in the program this year, the ministry added.


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)