Pacific Islands forum cuts Taiwan reference after China complaint
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) removed references to Taiwan from its official communique after complaints from China, Reuters reported citing a spokesperson from the forum.
The original communique, released on Friday, included a section reaffirming relations “with Taiwan/Republic of China”. But after objections from China, the document was revised and reposted without any mention of Taiwan.
The context: China views Taiwan as a breakaway province with no right to state-to-state relations, a claim the democratically governed island strongly disputes. Nonetheless, Beijing has increasingly pressured countries to sever diplomatic ties with Taipei.
A forum spokesperson said the finalised communique reflects the consensus of all members and does not alter the decisions made at the meeting.
The numbers: Of PIF's 18 members, only three countries—Palau, Tuvalu, and the Marshall Islands—maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan. As China's economic influence over the region has grown, several nations, including Nauru, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, have switched allegiance to Beijing in recent years.
What they said: Taiwan condemned China's actions as "rude and unreasonable intervention… that undermines regional peace and stability," but said the change does not affect its status in the forum or its future participation.
China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing that "any attempt by the Taiwan authorities to brush up their sense of presence by rubbing shoulders with the forum can only be self-deceptive."
The sources: Pacific Islands Forum Communique , Reuters
