China has warned of “consequences” over Taiwan’s presence at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau, bringing growing geopolitical tensions into one of the Pacific region’s most important political gatherings.
China’s special envoy for Pacific island affairs, Qian Bo, raised Beijing’s objections after Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung attended the opening ceremony of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror.
“There will always be consequences,” Qian told reporters, while saying his comments were not intended as a threat.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and opposes official international engagement with Taipei.
Taiwan is not a formal dialogue partner of the Pacific Islands Forum in the same way as China, but has long participated as a development partner.
This year’s meeting is being hosted by Palau, one of only three Pacific countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The other two are Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has rejected pressure over his country’s relationship with Taiwan and used his opening remarks to emphasise that Pacific countries should determine their own direction.
“Our partners are welcome to sail with us, but they do not choose our destination,” Whipps said.
The dispute raises a wider issue for Pacific nations as competition for influence in the region continues to grow.
China, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Taiwan are among governments seeking closer economic, diplomatic and security relationships across the Pacific.
Australia and New Zealand have both emphasised that decisions concerning the Pacific Islands Forum should remain with Pacific countries.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has also raised concerns about the absence of several Pacific leaders from the meeting.
The leaders of Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu and Kiribati are not attending the Palau gathering, while Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale returned home after a no-confidence motion was filed against him.
Their countries remain represented at the Forum.
There has been no evidence presented establishing that Samoa’s absence is connected to the dispute involving China and Taiwan.
For Samoa, the issue carries particular diplomatic significance.
Samoa established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in November 1975 and has maintained a One China policy since then.
Samoa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade states that its relationship with China remains underpinned by that policy, while Samoa has also maintained a position of non-interference regarding the Taiwan issue.
China has become an important development partner for Samoa and other Pacific nations, providing assistance in areas including infrastructure, health, education and economic development.
At the same time, the Pacific Islands Forum brings together countries with different diplomatic relationships and foreign policy positions.
The current dispute therefore presents a challenge for the Forum as it tries to preserve regional unity while its members navigate increasingly intense competition between larger powers.
The 18-member Forum was established to allow Pacific governments to work collectively on regional priorities.
Those priorities include climate change, economic development, regional security, ocean protection and the future prosperity of Pacific communities.
The concern now is that disagreements between outside powers could increasingly compete with those priorities for attention.
Palau’s message at the opening of the meeting was that international partners remain welcome in the Pacific, but that Pacific countries should retain control over the direction of their own regional organisation.
The 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting continues in Palau until 4 September.
Sources include Reuters, ABC Australia, the Samoa Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and official information from the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
