◎ Guo Suo
Foreign Minister Lin Jialong went to Palau to participate in activities related to the 55th Pacific Islands Forum. Taiwan continued to participate in the "Taiwan/Republic of China and Forum Country Dialogue Meeting" in its existing capacity, and jointly issued a joint statement with Palau, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu. First of all, it must be clarified that Taiwan's participation in the relevant mechanisms of the Pacific Islands Forum is not a diplomatic breakthrough made this year, nor is it the first time it has entered the PIF system. What is truly worthy of recognition is that despite Beijing's years of continuous pressure and attempts to shrink Taiwan's international participation space, Taiwan has still not been excluded.
Foreign Minister Lin Jialong (second from left) recently visited the friendly state of Palau to participate in the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). (File photo, provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Diplomatic achievements do not need to be exaggerated. Being able to maintain its existing position under long-term suppression by powerful powers is itself a demonstration of diplomatic resilience.
What Beijing really wants is never just to reduce Taiwan's diplomatic allies, but to gradually get the international community to accept the political narrative that "Taiwan should not exist in any international structure." From the dispute over the interpretation of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to various international organizations and regional forums, China continues to try to translate its "one-China principle" into international rules that other countries must abide by. However, the development of the Pacific Islands Forum once again proves that Beijing can protest and exert pressure, but it cannot unilaterally decide how other countries interact with Taiwan. In particular, the United States publicly supports Taiwan's continued meaningful participation in the PIF, which further demonstrates that Taiwan's international participation is no longer just a political struggle between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, but has gradually become a part of democratic countries' joint efforts to face the CCP's expansion of international discourse power.
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What really deserves to be called a "breakthrough" is that Taiwan's diplomatic model is changing. In the past, we were accustomed to measuring the success or failure of diplomacy by the increase or decrease in diplomatic relations. Now, Taiwan's more important direction is to form a cooperation network with countries with similar concepts such as the United States, Japan, and Australia, and then jointly invest in medical care, public health, drinking water safety, talent training, climate resilience, and infrastructure in third countries. The promotion of relevant cooperation between Taiwan and the United States in Palau is a good example. This means that Taiwan no longer just asks other countries to "support Taiwan," but has begun to use its medical, technological, agricultural and governance capabilities to tell the international community that Taiwan itself is a partner that can solve problems and create public benefits. As more and more countries form substantial interests and value connections with Taiwan, the cost for the CCP to cut off this network will naturally become higher and higher.
Therefore, the most positive thing about this Pacific diplomacy is that despite years of hard work, the CCP still cannot make Taiwan disappear from the Pacific cooperation network. Furthermore, the diplomatic breakthrough that Taiwan really needs to pursue should not just add a few more flags, but allow more countries to discover that regional security, medical and health care, scientific and technological development, disaster prevention and relief, and even democratic governance all have a place that Taiwan can contribute. The CCP can prevent Taiwan from entering certain conference rooms, but it will be difficult to prevent a Taiwan that is capable, credible, and willing to take responsibility from being needed by the world. From "striving to be seen" to "becoming an indispensable partner", this is the breakthrough in Taiwan's diplomacy that is truly worth looking forward to.
Taiwan is helping Palau raise milkfish and promote telemedicine. Vice President Hsiao Meiqin (third from left) visited Palau’s National Fisheries Center in June and fed feed to the milkfish pond. (File photo, provided by the Presidential Office) (The author is a freelance commentator)
