The 2024 Pacific Islands Leadership Program with Taiwan wrapped up Oct. 30 in Taipei City, underscoring the government’s commitment to expanding ties with partner countries in the region, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Organized by the MOFA and Hawaii-based East-West Center, this year’s edition involved 21 young professionals from 10 countries. Mary Therese Perez Hattori, director of the EWC’s Pacific Islands Development Program, and representatives from the American Institute in Taiwan and the Embassy of Tuvalu attended the closing ceremony.
During his remarks at the event, MOFA Deputy Minister François Chihchung Wu quoted “Our Sea of Islands” by Tongan and Fijian writer Epeli Hauʻofa to emphasize the close relationship among Taiwan, the U.S. and Pacific countries. Taiwan is committed to working with such partners in the face of challenges like authoritarian expansion, climate change and regional security, he said.
According to the MOFA, Marshall Islands participant Jasmine Myazoe expressed appreciation to Taiwan’s government for organizing the program at the event. Pacific countries are all ocean states that will be seriously impacted by climate change, she said, adding that strengthening the natural disaster resilience of island nations is a top priority.
Proposed in 2011 by current U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, PILP was finalized under a memorandum of understanding inked in 2012 by the MOFA and EWC. Under the pact, a two-month course is held in Taiwan and Hawaii annually, with topics ranging from gender equality to international relations, the MOFA said, adding that a total of 197 participants have taken part in the initiative since its formal launch in 2013. (YCH-E)
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