China’s special envoy to the Pacific has warned there will be “consequences” over Taiwan’s presence at this year’s Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting after the democratically ruled island’s foreign minister appeared at its opening ceremony in Palau.
Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung joined a mass of dignitaries in Palau’s commercial centre Koror for a ceremony to mark the formal beginning of the meeting, which has drawn hundreds of politicians, officials, non-government organisations and journalists to the picturesque Micronesian nation.
Taiwan has vastly more room to manoeuvre at this year’s PIF leaders meeting because it maintains diplomatic ties with Palau.
In a bid to scale up those commercial and development ties with Palau, Taipei has brought a large business delegation to the country this week.
Hundreds of politicians, officials, non-government organisations and journalists have travelled to Palau for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting. (AFP: Saeed Khan)
Lin Chia-lung is set to meet the leaders of Taiwan’s three remaining Pacific allies tomorrow, but has also held informal catch-ups with other dignitaries at the gathering — including senior US official Christopher Landau.
The foreign minister’s appearance at the opening ceremony drew particular attention because Taiwan’s participation at the meeting is usually so tightly controlled by the PIF secretariat.
China’s Pacific envoy Qian Bo told reporters after the ceremony that Beijing had “serious concerns” about the space being given to Taiwan, although he insisted China had the “understanding and support” of most Pacific nations.
“Taiwan is not a dialogue partner with the forum so we have serious concerns,”
he said.
“We have made our position very clear to the government of Palau and the secretariat.”
China’s ambassador to the Pacific nations, Qian Bo, said Beijing had “serious concerns” about the space being given to Taiwan at the PIF. (ABC News: Mark Moore)
He also flagged that he would make a statement registering China’s anger when he attended the official meeting between Pacific nations and its 21 dialogue partners — which does not include Taiwan — on Tuesday.
“We will be making a statement at the partners dialogue as usual,” he said.
When asked whether there would be “consequences” for Taiwan’s participation he said there would be — although he insisted that was not a threat.
“There will always be consequences… this should not have happened, we think it’s very inappropriate,”
he said.
“It’s not a threat, as a sovereign state, we certainly have our concerns like any other countries.”
Concern tensions between China and Taiwan could derail meeting
The envoy’s comments are likely to stir further anxiety among Pacific nations about the risk that seething tensions between China and Taiwan could explode into the open at this year’s PIF meeting, distracting from the key Pacific priorities.
Last year, Solomon Islands blocked development and dialogue partners from attending the meeting in order to avoid a damaging stoush over Taiwan — although the then-Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele insisted the decision was purely procedural.
PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa told the opening ceremony in Palau that after a “break” the forum was now welcoming back its partners.
“This year it’s full on,” he said.
Palau’s President and incoming PIF Chair Surangel Whipps Jr, who has been an outspoken critic of China, told reporters on Sunday that China was trying to coerce his country over Taiwan links, and that he would not be bullied.
Palau’s president and incoming PIF chair Surangel Whipps Jr at the opening ceremony. (AFP: Saeed Khan)
Mr Whipps was not as direct in his speech to the opening ceremony, but he made a thinly veiled reference to China, saying “attention is not the same as respect”.
“Our partners are welcome to sail with us, but they do not choose our destination,”
he said.
The controversy over Taiwan comes as the forum grapples with the absence of several leaders this year, in a blow to regional unity.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Tuesday that he was “highly suspicious” over whether foreign interference might be behind some of the leaders absences but did not point the finger directly at China, saying New Zealand would try to verify what was happening before laying any blame.
