The Pacific Partnership Act, unanimously passed by the US House of Representatives on Monday, aims to bolster cooperation with Taiwan and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), its backers said.
Introduced by US Representative Ed Case early this year, the bill emphasizes the importance of US collaboration with key allies and partners, including Taiwan, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, as well as regional organizations such as the PIF.
Unlike other bills introduced recently, such as the Taiwan Conflict Deterrence Act, the Pacific Partnership Act does not explicitly target China.
Photo: AFP
Instead, it requires the US president and the US secretary of state to develop a Pacific partnership strategy, focusing on the region’s vulnerabilities to threats such as natural disasters, foreign military actions, economic coercion and corruption.
The PIF, which is mentioned multiple times in the Pacific act, has become a diplomatic flashpoint between Taiwan and China. The south Pacific has long been a contested area of influence for both nations, with the PIF as a critical platform.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) last month attended the forum, as did Chinese Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs Qian Bo (錢波).
The Solomon Islands sought to block Taiwan’s participation in future forums, reports said.
A draft communique reaffirming Taiwan’s status was reportedly removed due to pressure from China.
During discussions on the Pacific Partnership Act, US Representative Amata Coleman Radewagen said that China’s influence was growing in the region, pointing to its 2022 security agreement with the Solomon Islands.
The bill calls for coordinated US efforts with allies to ensure effective aid programs in the Pacific without duplication, Radewagen said.
Although the bill has cleared the House, it faces a narrow window for approval by the US Senate, given US presidential elections in November and a congressional recess.
Tropical Storm Usagi strengthened to a typhoon yesterday morning and remains on track to brush past southeastern Taiwan from tomorrow to Sunday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was approximately 950km east-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost point, the CWA said. It is expected to enter the Bashi Channel and then turn north, moving into waters southeast of Taiwan, it said. The agency said it could issue a sea warning in the early hours of today and a land warning in the afternoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the storm was moving at
UPDATED FORECAST: The warning covered areas of Pingtung County and Hengchun Peninsula, while a sea warning covering the southern Taiwan Strait was amended The Central Weather Administration (CWA) at 5:30pm yesterday issued a land warning for Typhoon Usagi as the storm approached Taiwan from the south after passing over the Philippines. As of 5pm, Usagi was 420km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip, with an average radius of 150km, the CWA said. The land warning covered areas of Pingtung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春), and came with an amended sea warning, updating a warning issued yesterday morning to cover the southern part of the Taiwan Strait. No local governments had announced any class or office closures as of press time last night. The typhoon
At least 35 people were killed and dozens more injured when a man plowed his car into pedestrians exercising around a sports center in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai on Monday night. Footage showing bodies lying on the pavement appeared on social media in the hours after the crash, but had vanished by early Tuesday morning, and local police reported only “injuries.” It took officials nearly 24 hours to reveal that dozens had died — in one of the country’s deadliest incidents in years. China heavily monitors social media platforms, where it is common for words and topics deemed
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to
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