Taiwan is deepening ties with Palau, one of its few remaining diplomatic allies, with a green-energy push timed to a major regional summit — a modest but pointed win for Taipei in a region China is courting hard.

• Taiwan's foreign minister Lin Chia-lung handed over four Taiwan-built electric buses in Palau, which will ferry leaders and delegates to the Pacific Islands Forum summit.
• A new hydrogen energy partnership was launched, alongside a solar and battery storage system that will also charge the buses.
• Palau's president Surangel Whipps Jr. thanked Taiwan for long-running help in schools, health care, security, climate work and infrastructure, saying the projects deliver more than just electricity.
• The buses stay in Palau after the summit to serve residents and tourists, and both sides talked up green tourism plans.
• The visit runs alongside the 55th Pacific Islands Forum, where Taiwan's presence is closely watched given Beijing's push for influence across the Pacific.

Outlook: Expect Taiwan to keep using energy and infrastructure aid to hold its shrinking group of Pacific allies, with Palau among the most reliable.