Taiwan plans to boost its spending in Latin America by more than NT$1 billion (US$32.8 million) next year, as it seeks to shore up ties with its few remaining allies in the region and push back against Beijing’s intensifying efforts to lure them away.
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According to a budget proposal submitted to Taiwan’s legislature last week, the island’s foreign ministry will allocate NT$5.37 billion to its Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs in the next financial year, up from NT$4.36 billion the previous year.
The increased funding is part of the ministry’s record NT$41.5 billion budget and is designed to expand Taiwan’s “Allies Prosperity Project”, launched in May by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to deepen cooperation with allied nations and counter Beijing’s growing influence.
Alongside bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the ministry plans to spend NT$207.4 million on inviting 330 guests from Latin America and the Caribbean – nearly double the 174 expected this year – to Taiwan next year. The amount is NT$121.7 million higher than this year’s allocation.
The ministry has also earmarked NT$53.8 million for public diplomacy campaigns, including joint workshops with governments, think tanks, universities, non-governmental organisations and media outlets in the region.
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By inviting influential figures – such as local officials, academics and public intellectuals – to conferences and forums, Taipei hopes to improve understanding of its policies and development model, promote a positive image, and increase international visibility.