Taipei, July 28 (CNA) Taiwan will donate two patrol vessels to its Pacific ally Tuvalu as part of bilateral coast guard cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs(MOFA) announced Friday in a press release.
Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) was cited in the release as saying at a ceremony to mark the event that Taiwan has been helping Tuvalu better safeguard its marine resources and combat illegal fishing activities since the two countries signed a cooperation deal last September.
He was referring to an agreement on coast guard cooperation under which both sides are committed to working together to combat transnational crime and enforce law governing fisheries, while promoting marine research and rescue.
The two coastal multipurpose boats pledged by Taiwan’s government demonstrate its support for Tuvalu’s efforts to “uphold sovereignty and protect marine resources,” Tien added.
According to the release, the boats will be built by Taiwanese vessel manufacturer Karmin International Co. and be delivered in March 2024.
Meanwhile, Tuvaluan ambassador to Taiwan Bikenibeu Paeniu thanked Taiwan’s government for its generosity while stressing that Tuvalu has been making every effort to tackle rampant illegal fishing activities in its exclusive economic zone, according to the release.
Tuvalu looks forward to more cooperation with Taiwan on marine affairs and law enforcement in the ocean, Paeniu said at the ceremony, during which he also signed a contract with Karmin’s General Manager Hu Yan-ru (胡彥儒) to formalize the donation.
MOFA said in the release that Taiwan previously provided two patrol boats to the Marshall Islands, Palau and Nauru each and stressed that the country will continue to promote coast guard cooperation with its Pacific allies.
