Taiwan has pledged US$3 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) to help address climate issues in the Pacific islands, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said yesterday.
“On behalf of Taiwan, Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo of Tuvalu, Taiwan’s ally in the region, announced at the Pacific Islands Forum that Taiwan will participate and support the PRF,” Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Director Michael Lin (林昭宏) said.
The donation, which is to be distributed over three years, was first announced at the Pacific Islands Forum in the Solomon Islands last week, Lin said.
Photo: Yang Cheng-yu, Taipei Times
“Taiwan, as an indispensable partner that has long contributed to the PRF, has decided to donate US$3 million to the PRF over three years,” Lin said.
The PRF had already raised more than US$170 million, with Australia promising to donate US$64 million, the US to donate US$25 million and Japan pledging US$3 million, he said.
Taiwan and like-minded partners would continue to contribute to peace, stability, regional development and prosperity in the Pacific island region, he said.
“Taiwan has always upheld the ‘Pacific Way’ honored by PIF members when participating in affairs in the Pacific, adopting the spirit of diversity and inclusion,” he said.
The PRF is the first Pacific-led regional fund dedicated to improving community resilience in the region, helping vulnerable people of the region who are exposed to climate change and disaster risks, the fund’s Web site says.
It seeks to build the resilience, preparedness and the adaptive capacity of poor communities before disasters strike, it says.
The five-day PIF summit concluded on Friday last week.
This year, the host country did not invite dialogue and development partners to the summit because a review of each country’s relationship with the Pacific islands had not been completed, Lin said.
“Although it is very regrettable that Taiwan could not interact with PIF members and other partners through this event in the Solomon Islands, we respect the hosting country’s decision made through a PIF internal mechanism,” he said.
Media had earlier reported that the decision was a result of political interference by China to block Taiwan’s participation.
A communique issued by PIF members at the end of the summit reaffirmed Taiwan’s involvement in its events as a “development partner,” Lin said, adding that it means Taiwan’s status as a development partner, established by the 1992 PIF leaders’ communique, would remain the same.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS