Pacific leaders have backed Taiwan’s right to participate in the region’s peak regional meeting, rejecting a push from China to exclude the democratically ruled island from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
Beijing has been pressing Pacific Islands nations to strip Taiwan of its status as a “development partner” for the Pacific Islands Forum and to annul a 1992 agreement that allows it to meet with its remaining Pacific allies at the annual gathering.
Last year China’s ambassador to the Pacific responded furiously when the Pacific reaffirmed the status quo, with the offending sentence taken out of the final communique — although Pacific officials insisted it was never meant to be in there in the first place.
China’s embassy in Tonga issued an extraordinary statement earlier this year, saying that it was “time to correct the erroneous Taiwan-related content in the 1992 Forum Communique” because the “vast majority” of Pacific nations now recognise Beijing over Taiwan.
Multiple Pacific officials also blamed China’s pressure over Taiwan for Solomon Islands’ decision to block all partners from this year’s meeting, saying the Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele was trying to find a compromise that would exclude Taipei without risking a broader political stoush.
But now Forum leaders gathering in Solomon Islands have publicly backed Taiwan’s participation in only slightly more muted language, making it clear a broader review of the region’s partnership arrangements doesn’t impact its status, and stating in the communique that they “maintain the 1992 Leaders’ decision on Development Partners”.
Multiple sources told the ABC that the debate over the wording was intense, with one official familiar with discussions saying it was a “very fraught and difficult” discussion.
One Pacific island government source said it was “impossible” for Pacific leaders to effectively expel Taiwan so long as it maintains Pacific allies — and that, while that band has dwindled from six to three since 2019, those that remain needed to be treated with respect.
The outcome is a blow to China’s push to use its growing influence in the Pacific to try and marginalise Taiwan and force it out of any regional gatherings.
The PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa said leaders had discussed the issue at their retreat in Noro in Solomon Islands and decided to maintain the status quo.
“Based on the leaders’ decision … including the retreat as well, there’s nothing changed,” he said.
“There’s no particular concern on any of our leaders’ minds and the 1992 decision is still there.
“We don’t have to go into any detail or highlight any aspect of it, but all leaders acknowledged that, and it’s there.”
Pacific backs Adelaide’s bid for COP31
Pacific leaders also backed Australia’s bid to “co-host” the landmark Conference of the Parties UN climate meeting next year with Pacific nations, despite Türkiye’s refusal to withdraw from the contest.
The leaders signalled they would step up their lobbying with Türkiye — and other countries in the same group that are meant to decide a host city — in order to help secure the bid for Adelaide.
Mr Manele told journalists at the final PIF press conference that the meeting would be “an opportunity to share with the world that we’re not defined by our vulnerabilities” and to press for more urgent climate action.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr, who is also the incoming chair and host for next year’s Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting, told the ABC that the meeting had sent a “clear message” that the COP should be held in Ausralia and the Pacific.
“We want to host COP31, we deserve to host COP31, and, given the breadth and depth of support, it would be seen as an act of good faith if others would clear the way,” he said.
“The coming weeks are make or break, which is why we agreed to work very closely with Prime Minister Albanese, including in New York in ten days time.
“We don’t want to let this major international opportunity slip us by.”
Pacific leaders at the final press conference were reticent to criticise Australia’s contentious decision to approve an extension of the massive North West Shelf gas project out until 2070, just a day after Mr Albanese left the meeting to return to Australia.
That’s despite warnings from some Pacific politicians that it risked breaching a landmark international climate ruling from earlier this year.
Mr Manele told the final PIF press conference that he hadn’t raised the issue with Mr Albanese in their bilateral meeting.
The other Pacific leaders declined to comment on it.
The ABC has asked China’s embassy in Canberra for a response.
(pmldaily)
