Taiwan is to donate two patrol vessels to Pacific ally Tuvalu as part of bilateral coast guard cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) was cited in a news 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 nations signed a cooperation deal in September last year.
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 laws governing fisheries, while promoting marine research and rescue.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The two coastal multipurpose boats pledged by the government demonstrate its support for Tuvalu’s efforts to “uphold sovereignty and protect marine resources,” Tien said.
The boats are to be built by Taiwanese manufacturer Karmin International Co and be delivered in March next year.
Tuvaluan Ambassador to Taiwan Bikenibeu Paeniu thanked the government for its generosity, while stressing that Tuvalu has been making every effort to tackle rampant illegal fishing activities in its exclusive economic zone, the news release said.
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 International general manager Hu Yan-ru (胡彥儒) to formalize the donation.
The ministry said in the release that Taiwan has previously provided two patrol boats each to the Marshall Islands, Palau and Nauru.
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