China has voiced strong opposition to Taiwan’s participation in the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, warning that its attendance could lead to “consequences” as tensions between Beijing and Taipei continue to spill into regional diplomacy.
China’s special envoy for Pacific island affairs, Qian Bo, said Taiwan’s presence at Monday’s opening ceremony was considered inappropriate and had drawn Beijing’s serious concern. However, he stopped short of explaining what consequences China might impose.
“There will always be consequences,” Qian told reporters, while insisting that his remark was not intended as a threat.
Palau, an archipelago of more than 500 islands, maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The issue has become increasingly sensitive as China seeks to strengthen its influence across the Pacific while attempting to reduce Taiwan’s diplomatic ties in the region.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected the suggestion that countries outside the forum should dictate its affairs, saying the Pacific Islands Forum itself determines what takes place at the gathering. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters similarly stressed that the group does not take instructions from external countries.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said the island was honoured to participate as a partner in the Pacific and remained committed to working with regional countries towards a more prosperous and peaceful region.
Although Taiwan is not a formal dialogue partner of the forum, it is recognised as a development partner and was invited to participate in meetings and side events. China is among the forum’s formal dialogue partners, alongside countries including the United States, Britain, Canada, India and Japan.
Beijing has steadily reduced Taiwan’s diplomatic presence among Pacific island nations, leaving Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands as the only three countries in the region that still maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.
The latest dispute comes as Australia, New Zealand and the United States remain increasingly focused on China’s growing influence in the Pacific. Canberra, while maintaining China as its largest trading partner, has expanded security and development cooperation with island nations amid concerns over the possibility of a permanent Chinese military presence.
Adding to those efforts, New Zealand and the United States announced on Tuesday that they would jointly fund a major upgrade to a Second World War-era port on an atoll in the Cook Islands, further highlighting the strategic importance of the Pacific region.
