Taiwan foreign minister to attend Pacific Islands Forum

Taiwan's foreign minister Lin Chia-lung will travel to Palau on Thursday to attend the Pacific Islands Forum, Taiwan's foreign ministry said Wednesday, after Taipei was blocked from last year's gathering.

The ministry said the annual meeting begins Sunday and ends September 4. Lin will lead a delegation that includes representatives from the energy, technology, food, construction and agriculture sectors.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said Lin would meet Taiwan's Pacific allies and other friendly nations to discuss deeper partnerships with Pacific Island nations and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Palau is among Taiwan's 12 remaining diplomatic partners, along with Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes Taipei's participation in international organisations and exchanges with other governments.

Pacific Islands Forum members Nauru, Kiribati and Solomon Islands have switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to Beijing since 2019. Solomon Islands, which hosted last year's meeting, barred Taiwan from attending at the time, leading to all external countries being disinvited.