The United States on Tuesday strongly backed Taiwan’s continued participation in the Pacific Islands Forum and accused China of pursuing what it called “malign activities” in the Pacific, including economic coercion, illegal fishing and corruption.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Murray said Washington would continue supporting Taiwan’s role in the regional grouping, where Taipei has been a development partner since 1992.
“The United States does strongly support Taiwan’s continued participation in the Pacific Islands Forum,” Murray told reporters in a virtual briefing.
He described Taiwan as a “reliable, likeminded, and democratic partner” that contributes to economic development and prosperity across the Pacific.
Murray said Washington wanted the PIF to follow its established precedent on Taiwan and allow member states to determine how the forum handles the issue.
The comments come amid tensions between Beijing and Taipei over Taiwan’s participation in regional organisations.
Murray said the United States opposed Chinese efforts to pressure Pacific Island countries to “sever or downgrade ties with Taiwan or Taiwan’s participation in the Pacific Islands Forum.”
Asked about China’s growing influence in the Pacific, Murray said the United States shared concerns with its regional partners over Beijing’s activities.
“We certainly share concerns with our Pacific Island partners related to China’s malign activities in the Pacific,” he said.
He listed “IUU fishing, elite capture and corruption, economic coercion, environmental degradation” among Washington’s concerns, while also pointing to China’s recent submarine-launched ballistic missile launch as a provocation.
However, Murray rejected the suggestion that U.S engagement with the Pacific was primarily aimed at countering China.
“We’re not simply engaging the Pacific because of a desire just to deter or oppose China,” he said, adding that Washington wanted stronger relations with Pacific nations because of their importance to U.S security and prosperity.
Murray also pushed back against international media coverage that he said had focused heavily on China-Taiwan tensions during the recent PIF leaders meeting in Palau.
He said the main story at the Forum was Pacific Island countries working together on their own economic and security challenges.
“I think it’s important just to differentiate that whereas China bullies PIF members in an attempt to get its way, the United States approaches the PIF membership with respect and on an equal footing,” Murray said.
He said Washington’s priorities included energy security, digital connectivity, maritime security and economic cooperation, alongside its broader effort to strengthen regional partnerships.
On Solomon Islands, Murray welcomed Prime Minister Matthew Wale’s foreign-policy approach and said Washington wanted to remain an economic and security partner based on “transparency, collaboration, and … equal partnership.”
The United States has also been expanding maritime cooperation with Pacific nations to combat drug trafficking and illegal fishing and improve maritime-domain awareness.
Murray said Washington would continue to deepen its engagement with the Pacific while respecting the priorities of individual island nations.
