TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Palau government has expressed interest in enhancing maritime security ties with Taiwan.

During discussions with Coast Guard Fleet Branch Director Huang Hsuan-kai (黃宣凱), Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. hoped for regular exchanges and monthly joint patrols with Taiwan, according to the Coast Guard Administration. He underscored the concept of “presence is deterrence.”

Taiwan’s Coast Guard organized a goodwill fleet to Palau, comprising the 4,000-tonne Chiayi-class patrol vessel Taipei and the 1,000-tonne cutter Hualien. The ships departed Taiwan on Sept. 11.

Whipps said he was deeply encouraged by the Taiwan Coast Guard’s visit, describing Taiwan and Palau as “one family.” Palau’s Minister of State Gustav Aitaro and Minister of Justice Jennifer Olegeriil also expressed a strong desire to deepen maritime law enforcement cooperation with Taiwan to combat illegal fishing and maritime smuggling.

Taiwan’s ambassador to Palau, Jessica Lee (黎倩儀), said the Coast Guard goodwill fleet underscored the strength of the Taiwan-Palau friendship and highlighted Taiwan’s contribution to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

The Coast Guard pledged to continue expanding exchanges with Taiwan’s diplomatic allies.

Taiwan signed a coast guard cooperation agreement with Palau in 2019 to bolster the Pacific Island nation’s capabilities in countering illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and other crimes within its marine sanctuary. In 2021, Taiwan donated two multi-purpose boats to Palau, which would boost humanitarian assistance for remote islands.