Washington: The United States and Taiwan are collaboratively aiding the Marshall Islands in the reconstruction of its parliament building following a devastating fire. This effort aims to bolster the Pacific nation's resilience, according to the U.S. State Department.

According to Focus Taiwan, after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau visited Palau and the Marshall Islands, the U.S. State Department announced a commitment of US$13 million to rebuild the Nitijela parliament building, with Taiwan's support. The fire, which occurred on August 26, severely damaged the structure, though financial loss estimates have not been disclosed.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung directed the Taiwanese embassy in the Marshall Islands to evaluate the situation and express Taiwan's concern and sympathy to the Marshallese government, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

Additionally, the U.S. State Department, in coordination with Taiwan, is allocating US$8.3 million to replace Air Marshall Islands' aging fleet and enhance disaster relief capabilities, particularly for outer islands like Kwajalein Atoll, which holds significant U.S. military assets. This initiative is set to improve transportation across the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), aiding both economic and humanitarian efforts.

Palau and the Marshall Islands maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, officially recognized as the Republic of China. In response to the State Department's fact sheet, MOFA expressed satisfaction over the ongoing U.S.-Taiwan collaboration in the Pacific, emphasizing its role in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. However, MOFA did not provide additional information on the cooperative projects in the Marshall Islands.