The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting issued a communique on the 30th, reaffirming Taiwan’s participation under the name of “Taiwan/Republic of China” remains unchanged. Following pressure from the Chinese envoy Qian Bo on the PIF Secretariat and other countries, journalists found that the PIF official website had removed the complete document of the original Leaders’ Meeting communique.
According to the Central News Agency report, China attempted to exclude Taiwan from participating in the Pacific Islands Forum through countries like the Solomon Islands. However, the Leaders’ Meeting on the 30th released a statement reaffirming Taiwan’s status in the PIF under the name of “Taiwan/Republic of China” established in the 1992 PIF Leaders’ Communique.
After the press conference, reporters on-site witnessed Chinese special envoy for Pacific Island Affairs, Qian Bo, expressing dissatisfaction with former Nauru President Baron Waqa. It was reported that Qian Bo expressed to Waqa that this declaration was “unacceptable.” Qian Bo then had a conversation with Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka, stating, “This should not be the final communique; the wording must be corrected.”
The PIF official website currently does not display the complete document of the earlier Leaders’ Meeting communique.
Ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum, there were reports that the Solomon Islands acted on behalf of Beijing to suppress Taiwan’s participation rights next year. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State replied in an email to the Central News Agency on the 27th, stating that Taiwan is a capable, active, democratic, and responsible member of the international community.
The U.S. Department of State spokesperson stated, “We all benefit from Taiwan’s expertise in addressing some of the most challenging global issues today. We will continue to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon expressed support on the 29th for maintaining Taiwan’s position unchanged at the Pacific Islands Forum and emphasized that decisions at the forum must be based on consensus.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade highlighted Australia’s commitment to continued cooperation with development partners in the Pacific region, including Taiwan, to facilitate exchanges with Taiwan during the forum, as established since 1992 to promote mutual understanding.
Taiwan participates in the dialogue of the Pacific Islands Forum under the name “Taiwan/Republic of China” in accordance with the 1992 PIF Leaders’ Communique reaffirmed in the 1999 and 2010 PIF Leaders’ Communique.
The PIF is one of the most significant international organizations in the Pacific region. Taiwan has participated in forum mechanisms and activities as a “Development Partner” under the name “Taiwan/Republic of China” since 1993, and this year, the delegation is led by Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Tang.