Foreign Ministry officials criticized China for creating geopolitical competition in the region and undermining discussions on regional affairs among Pacific countries.

The name and logo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are displayed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building in Taipei, photo undated. Photo: Central News Agency

Staff Editor, Central News Agency

China's ongoing efforts to inject geopolitical competition into the region and undermine Pacific nations' discussions of regional affairs deserve more international attention, a foreign ministry official said yesterday.

Please continue reading...

Foreign Minister Lin Jialong (林佳龙) led a delegation to Palau, a diplomatic state, last week to participate in activities related to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit. However, the absence of some member state leaders was interpreted by some as a sign of cracks in Pacific unity.

Thirteen Pacific Islands Forum members participated as heads of state or government, while Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Samoa sent ministerial-level representatives, said a diplomat who declined to be named.

Last year, Nauru participated with ministerial representation, while Samoa sent senior government officials.

The absence of some leaders is not unprecedented, the official said, adding that to assert a crack in "Pacific unity" based solely on changes in delegation levels would oversimplify the issue and fail to reflect the reality of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Taiwan has participated in relevant mechanisms of the Pacific Islands Forum as a "development partner" under the name "Taiwan/Republic of China" since 1993, the official said.

The country has long respected the "Pacific Way", which emphasizes mutual respect, consensus and solidarity, and continues to make substantial contributions through regional mechanisms, including support for the Pacific Resilience Facility and the 2050 Blue Pacific Continental Strategy, the official said.

By contrast, China's actions in the past few years have increasingly raised concerns among Pacific nations about its security and political autonomy, the official said.

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has called on countries that conduct intercontinental ballistic missile tests, as China did in July, to ensure transparency and provide at least 24 hours' advance notice, the official said.

However, Nauru opposed the call, the official added.

This highlights a real challenge to "Pacific unity" as some countries close to Beijing show reluctance to support efforts by Pacific leaders to forge a common position on security issues, the official said.

Pacific unity should not be judged solely by whether leaders attend summits, but by whether countries can continue to independently develop a collective voice on issues of common concern, the official added.

Taiwan supports the regional agenda led by the Pacific Islands Forum and has never asked Pacific countries to choose between Taipei and Beijing, the official said.

At the same time, China has used military activities and political influence to prevent Pacific Islands Forum members from reaching a common position, continuing to deepen regional security concerns and highlighting the stark contrast between the two sides' roles and approaches in the Pacific, the official said.

News source: Taipei Times

No need to draw, no need to grab. Now use the APP to read the news. You are guaranteed to win every day. Click me to download the APP. Click me to see the event details.