The Pacific Islands Forum recently made headlines after it removed references to Taiwan from a group communique. This decision was made after China, a powerful nation and major lender in the region, expressed its displeasure. The change caused tension, with Taiwan condemning China’s actions as a “rude intervention.”
The Initial Communique and China’s Reaction
On Friday, the Pacific Islands Forum, a group of 18 nations released a communique. The document had included a section titled “Relations with Taiwan/Republic of China.” This section mentioned that the forum’s leaders confirmed a decision of 1992, regarding their relations with Taiwan. China’s response was swift and severe. Qian Bo, China’s special envoy to the Pacific Islands, has officially claimed that the reference to Taiwan “must be a mistake.”
China considers Taiwan to be one of its provinces and does not recognize its right to have state-to-state relations. Beijing is especially sensitive to Taiwan’s involvement in international forums. After Qian’s comments, the forum’s website quickly removed the communique that mentioned Taiwan. The next morning, a revised version of the document appeared with all references to Taiwan removed.
Taiwan’s Response to China’s Pressure
Taiwan was very upset when its mention was removed from the communique. Taiwan’s government said that China acted rudely and unfairly. They believe that China is hurting peace and stability in the region. Even though the references to Taiwan were taken out, Taiwan’s government made it clear that this doesn’t change its position in the forum. They also said that Taiwan can still take part in the forum in the future.
Taiwan was a development partner of the Pacific Islands Forum from 1993. Following the incident, Taiwan sent its deputy foreign minister, Tien Chung-kwang, to Tonga to meet with its three Pacific allies: Palau, Tuvalu, and the Marshall Islands. These three nations are among the few countries that maintain official diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
China’s Growing Influence in the Pacific
China is trying to increase its influence in the Pacific Islands region. Out of the 18 forum members, 15 have diplomatic relations with China. Only three, including Tuvalu, Palau and the Marshall Islands, recognise Taiwan. Beijing is also a major infrastructure lender in the region and has been expanding its security presence.
Over the years, several Pacific Island nations have switched their diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China. For example, Nauru recently switched ties from Taiwan to Beijing in January. Kiribati and the Solomon Islands also established diplomatic relations with China in 2019. Both countries now host Chinese police, highlighting Beijing’s growing security influence in the region.
The Pacific Islands Forum’s Stance
The Pacific Islands Forum secretariat clarified that the communique is a “consensus-based document.” A spokesperson stated that the final version reflects the agreed decisions and views of all members. The spokesperson emphasized that the revised communique does not change or impact the decisions made during the meeting.
Despite the controversy, the forum leaders appear to have maintained their decisions without being swayed by external pressures. The removal of references to Taiwan highlights the delicate balance the Pacific Islands Forum must maintain. Due to China’s increasing presence and influence in the region.
The Future of Taiwan in the Pacific
The incident raises questions about Taiwan’s future role in the Pacific Islands Forum. While Taiwan’s status has not been formally diminished, China’s growing influence could make it more challenging for Taiwan to participate in future forums. Taiwan continues to call on like-minded countries to pay close attention to China’s actions and to support peace and stability in the region.
China continues to assert its influence, the Pacific Islands Forum. The forum faces the challenge of navigating the complex relationship between China and Taiwan. The forum’s decisions will likely be scrutinised in the future as both Beijing and Taipei continue to gain influence in the Pacific.