Voice of America
Date: July 10, 2018
By: Nike Ching

U.S. officials recognize Taiwan’s contribution to finance demining operations in post-Islamic State areas in Syria and Iraq, at the United States Institute of Peace, in Washington, July 9, 2018. Pictured from left to right are: Laura Stone, State Department acting deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs; John Norris, American Institute in Taiwan Managing Director; Stanley Kao, Taiwan’s representative to the United States; and Terry Wolff, U.S. deputy special Presidential envoy for the global coalition to counter Islamic State. (Photo – R. Chung/VOA Mandarin)

STATE DEPARTMENT — The United States is recognizing the contributions of an unlikely and quiet partner in its global campaign to defeat the Islamic State (IS) terror group — Taiwan.

U.S. officials thanked Taiwan for its stabilization and humanitarian efforts in areas once controlled by IS in Syria and Iraq during a ceremony at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington.

Taiwan’s representative to the United States, Stanley Kao, announced Monday it was contributing $1 million to finance demining operations in Syria and 20 demining equipment sets to assist with similar efforts in Iraq.

The global campaign to defeat IS now has 77 members, said Terry Wolff, U.S. deputy special Presidential envoy for the global coalition to counter Islamic State, “Taiwan is a valuable partner.”    [FULL  STORY]