U.S.-Taiwan Partnership in the Pacific Islands

The Pacific Islands are an important area of cooperation for the United States and Taiwan, as both have major interests at stake in the region.

For the U.S., the Pacific Islands are critical to the Indo-Pacific strategy and its status as a resident power in the Western Pacific. Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa are all part of the United States. Furthermore, the U.S. has maintained close political, economic and especially security relationships with Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau under the Compacts of Free Association.

The Pacific Islands are indispensable to Taiwan’s political status. Taiwan and China and continue to compete over diplomatic support, with the Pacific Islands being a hotly contested battleground. Currently, four Pacific Island nations have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

For years, The Heritage Foundation has not only called for increased cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan, but also U.S. support for Pacific Island nations. Both of these objectives serve to counter China’s efforts to push the U.S. out of the region. Join us for a discussion of these important strategic issues and the importance of cooperation for the U.S., Taiwan, and our partners in the Pacific.