The Pacific Islands Forum secretariat has altered the communique from last week’s summit in Tonga to remove an affirming reference to Taiwan, after an outburst from China.
In a tumultuous ending to the otherwise largely-harmonious regional gathering in Tonga last week, a clause endorsing Taiwan’s status as a “development partner” went missing from the final text.
The publication mix-up reveals tension among PIF members over diplomatic allegiances.
With China-aligned Solomon Islands to take the chair role and host the next Leaders Meeting in 2025, these ripples may intensify and be felt across the blue continent.
The omission may have been a case of more haste, less speed.
The PIF Secretariat published the communique of the 53rd leaders meeting on its website in what was likely record time, mid-afternoon on Friday.
Just a short while later, it was taken down to be replaced with a different version around lunchtime Saturday.
The difference in the text was immediately obvious.
The Saturday version was missing what had been s66 in Friday’s iteration: a reaffirmation of a 1992 decision giving the Taiwan the status of PIF “development partner”.
While the majority of PIF members have relationships with Beijing, three nations recognise Taiwan: Palau, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu.
This text sparked a furious reaction from Qian Bo, China’s special envoy to the Pacific when he spoke with media after a press conference on Friday.
He considered the inclusion of section 66 a mistake.
“This should not be the final communique, there must be a correction on the text,” Qian said.
The later version does appear to have been ‘corrected’ with the original section 66 excised and no mention of Taiwan in the document.
A spokesperson for the PIF secretariat said the new document was “the correct version”, but played down the practical impact of the change.
“The version as finalised does not change nor impact the decisions of the meeting, nor any standing decisions of the forum leaders,” the spokesperson said.
“The communique is a consensus-based document, reflecting the agreed decisions and views of all the Pacific Islands Forum.”
Taiwan’s deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Tien Chung-Kwang told AAP in Nuku’alofa that his message to PIF is “we are not here to rock the boat”.
His view of the first version of s66 is that it “reflects the facts” and “reaffirms the decision made in 1992”.
Speaking before the revised communique was published, the ambassador said that if the text were removed, this would be “disappointing”.
He said that he was concerned that if China were to interfere in the PIF’s treatment of Taiwan it “will bring division to a harmonious region”.
Earlier in the week, members of the Solomon Islands delegation, including Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka, had let it be known that they intended to ask leaders to strip Taiwan of the ‘development partner’ status.
He said to reporters, “We look at Taiwan as not a sovereign country” as the basis for the proposed change.
At the summit-ending press conference, Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele was asked straight-up whether he would allow Taiwanese delegates to attend next year.
He declined to confirm, instead pointing to a review of the organisation’s membership.
Anthony Albanese and Chris Luxon, the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand, also offered support for maintaining Taiwan’s status during their time in Tonga.
“As a host of PIF you may have an individual position that’s different, but you need to reflect the views of the Pacific Islands Forum and all the leaders that are there,” Luxon said.
Tien said he hoped Taiwan would be able to attend in Honiara, saying “we will keep on doing what we think is right”, calling on “like-minded” countries to assist Taiwan in maintaining their longstanding relationship with PIF.
“Don’t block Taiwan to participate. We are coming not to disturb,” he said.
