The Pacific island nation of Palau wants to end its relationship with imported food. It's working with diplomatic ally Taiwan in a bid for more homegrown produce.
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00:0060-year-old part-time farmer Jeff Thomas took up rearing pigs a few years ago.
00:08When the global pandemic halted flights and cargo to his Pacific Island home, Palau, he
00:13realised just how isolated people here are.
00:17Now he doesn't want his family to have to depend on imported food.
00:22To learn the ropes, he's been coming here, a farm run by Palau's diplomatic ally Taiwan.
00:42The Taiwan Technical Mission Farm is the largest breeder of pigs in Palau, selling hundreds
00:48of piglets to the country's farmers every year.
00:51It also offers training and guidance for the country's pig rearers and offers technical
00:56veterinary support.
00:58Palau's 18,000 residents live across some 300 low-lying islands and atolls with limited
01:04farmable land.
01:06Projects like this boost productivity and wean the country off imports.
01:11It's a new target for Palau, separated from other countries by hundreds of kilometres
01:16of Pacific Ocean.
01:17He knows it could easily be cut off by severe weather or conflict.
01:22And imported and often over-processed food is having a negative impact on public health,
01:28with diseases like diabetes on the rise.
01:30We've never had, we have obesity now as a problem in our young people and growing up,
01:40looking through, remembering my years growing up, we never had much imported food.
01:47We were just eating what we were growing.
01:52To help Palauans get back to growing and eating fresh produce, Taiwan is introducing new crop
01:57types, growing fruits and vegetables for schools and providing nutrition education.
02:04This is one of Taiwan's largest missions of its kind.
02:08Strategically located between the Philippines and the U.S. territory of Guam, Palau is an
02:12important ally to Taiwan.
02:14It's one of just 12 countries around the world to recognise its sovereignty.
02:19The self-ruled democracy is claimed by China and Beijing objects to any official recognition
02:24of Taipei internationally.
02:26As China ups its claims over Taiwan, it's been using carrot and stick measures on Taipei's
02:31few remaining allies, like Palau, to switch allegiance to Beijing.
02:36Meaning the Taiwan-Palau relationship is more important than ever.
02:42Palau was probably the strongest ally of Taiwan.
02:46Palau constantly speaks Taiwan in international space.
02:51So without Palau's voice for Taiwan, simply, there will be a huge issue.
03:03And our international spirit suddenly just shrinks so much globally, regionally and in
03:09bilateral relations.
03:11Tensions are rising here in the Pacific, as global powers vie for influence.
03:16For the Palauans who call these remote islands home, it's a reminder that they must look
03:21to what they already have.
03:23Getting back to basics, pursuing self-sufficiency and making the most of their land.
03:29Alex Chen and Rick Lowatt from Karor, Palau for Taiwan Plus.