Taiwan to reestablish representative office in Guam
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Taiwan’s representative office in the U.S. territory of Guam is set to reopen, according to the MOFA July 3. (MOFA)
Taiwan is set to reestablish the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam, spotlighting the government’s commitment to building its presence in the Indo-Pacific while highlighting the country’s strong partnership with the U.S., according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs July 3.
The decision reflects the growing strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region, the MOFA said. The U.S. launched its Indo-Pacific strategy in 2018 and released the Indo-Pacific Strategy Report the following year, setting out a series of goals that are in accordance with Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, the MOFA added.
A key plank in the government’s national development strategy, the NSP seeks to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
According to the MOFA, Taiwan has strong economic and trade relations with Guam, as local enterprises like First Commercial Bank maintain business operations in the territory. Medical tourism from Guam to Taiwan has also increased thanks to a partnership with Taipei City-based Taiwan Adventist Hospital, the ministry added.
The reopening of the representative office in Guam is expected to further facilitate economic and trade collaboration between Taiwan and nations in the western Pacific, the ministry said. The reestablishment means Taiwan now has 13 representative offices in the U.S., with TECO’s also present in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington. (YCH-E)
