TAIWAN must invest in security if it is to live in peace.
The Taiwanese Trade Representative to Fiji, David Wu, said that by strengthening its democracy, Taiwan would safeguard peace and stability.
Speaking in Suva, Fiji on the 115th National Day of Taiwan, Wu said his country would make use of its economic and technological capabilities to demonstrate its determination to protect its people and sovereignty.
Wu highlighted Taiwan’s democratic development, technological capabilities and long-standing cooperation with Fiji, particularly in the areas of agriculture and fisheries and more recently in the health sector.
Last month a medical team from Taiwan Mackay Memorial Hospital visited Nadi Hospital to provide free medical services. This was the eighth visit to Fiji and included an infectious disease specialist to help Fiji to the increasingly serious HIV situation while sharing experience with local healthcare professionals on prevention and treatment.
Wu noted that the international environment faced multiple challenges, including geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, climate change and rapid technological development.
He said Taiwan would continue to uphold democracy and contribute to peace, while working with like-minded partners to build a more resilient Pacific region through its expertise in technology, healthcare, agriculture and digital transformation.
Taiwan has maintained a presence in Suva since 1971. Cooperation in agriculture, healthcare and human resource development has helped build strong and lasting connections between the two countries.
Former Fijian Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, spoke at the event and emphasised that the core of Taiwan-Fiji cooperation went beyond the provision of equipment or resources and focused also on the transfer of knowledge and technology, training of local personnel and strengthening of Fiji’s capacity for sustainable and independent development.
Chaudhry said the Taiwan Technical Mission had worked with Fiji since 1978 through demonstration farms, technical assistance, quality seedlings, farmer training and technology transfer.
Through cooperation between the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF) and Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture, more than 15,000 guava and 16,000 dragon fruit seedlings have been produced, contributing to improvements in fruit production and marketing capabilities.
Chaudhry also noted the establishment of an Centre of Agricultural Technology Transfer (CATT) and the 2026 Resilient Cultivation Promotion Programme supported the development of smart and climate-resilient agriculture.
This year, Taipei Trade Office in Fiji also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fiji National University, providing students with opportunities to learn about tissue culture, smart greenhouse technologies and high-value crop production.
Chaudhry highlighted the launch of a Taiwan-Fiji White Shrimp Industry Development Project running from 2026 to 2030. This aims to establish a sustainable shrimp value chain by improving the supply of shrimp fry and feed and strengthening farmer training.