Pacific Islands Forum Submits to Beijing’s Request to Remove Mention of Taiwan
The Pacific Islands Forum’s latest communique omitted a line reaffirming Taiwan as a ‘development partner,’ a decision made in 1992. This paragraph has been a part of the communique for over three decades, among other topics discussed at the forum. Interestingly, the paragraph reappeared on the forum’s website without any mention of Taiwan, leading to speculation. Despite not being a member, China, along with other major countries, attends PIF events as a ‘dialogue partner.’ The recent tension between Taiwan and China escalated following Lai Ching-te’s presidency and his vocal stance on independence. The mention of Taiwan in the communique was objected to by the Solomon Islands, which switched diplomatic recognition to China in 2019. This disagreement became a major issue for the Chinese delegation, marking a significant shift in over 30 years. China’s envoy for the Pacific expressed surprise at the omission and demanded a correction.
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