The United States Department of State has publicly praised Taiwan for its contributions to the “Central Pacific Connect” cable project. In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) stated that it appreciates the United States’ determination to deepen relationships with Pacific island nations and welcomes American efforts to promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
The U.S. Department of State released a statement on its official website on September 16, highlighting the discussions held at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) roundtable meeting in Papua New Guinea, attended by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. During the meeting, Landau announced the revitalization of bilateral partnerships and adjustments to shared priorities in areas such as the economy, security, and infrastructure.
Reaffirming its commitment to establishing a free and open Pacific island region, the U.S. announced on the 16th that it is investing $5 million to support the construction of a subsea cable connecting Tuvalu, with significant funding from Taiwan. This project has now grown to over $100 million in total funding. The U.S. Coast Guard will continue to enhance law enforcement capabilities in the Pacific islands.
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) posted on Facebook on the 17th, stating that the U.S. is strengthening its commitment to the free and open Pacific island nations. Deputy Secretary of State Landau recently chaired the “U.S.-Pacific Island Nations Roundtable Meeting” in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, announcing new cooperation initiatives aimed at delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of the U.S. and Pacific island nations.
AIT mentioned that from collaborating with Taiwan on projects like the “East Micronesia Cable” for digital connectivity to key minerals, infrastructure, security cooperation, health resilience, and leadership exchanges, the U.S. is working hand in hand with Pacific partners to build a prosperous, stable, and value-sharing region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China issued a press release stating, “Our country, together with like-minded nations such as the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, is assisting our ally Tuvalu in the construction of the ‘Central Pacific Connect’ (CPC) cable project. This project enhances Tuvalu’s digital resilience and external communication capabilities, previously acknowledged by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. We affirm the United States’ use of this successful example to illustrate the achievements of like-minded partners in the region and their commitment to deepening relationships with Pacific island partners.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China is pleased to continue strengthening cooperation in the Pacific region with the United States and other important regional partners, working together to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions.