US Criticizes China’s Demand to Remove Taiwan from Pacific Islands Forum Statement
The United States has condemned China’s demand to remove a reference to Taiwan from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) communique, calling it an attempt to limit Taiwan’s international presence. A US government spokesperson highlighted Beijing’s ongoing efforts to limit Taiwan’s international presence.
Background
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an intergovernmental organization consisting of 18 member countries. The forum convened its 53rd summit in Tonga last week. Although Taiwan was not a formal participant, it has been actively engaged as a ‘development partner’ with the forum since 1993.
Initial Communique
The PIF initially included a reassertion of the standing of self-governing Taiwan in a public communique outlining leaders’ agreements after their weeklong annual meeting. Taiwan’s involvement has been recognized and reaffirmed in various PIF communications, notably in the 1992 PIF Leaders’ Communique, with subsequent affirmations in 1999 and 2010.
Communique Removal
The summit concluded on August 30, and the PIF initially published a joint statement that included a reaffirmation of the established arrangements concerning Taiwan. The original communique included a statement in paragraph 66, which read: ‘Leaders at the forum reaffirmed the 1992 Leaders’ decision on relations with Taiwan/Republic of China.’ However, the communique was removed from the PIF website later that evening, only to be republished the next day with paragraph 66 removed.
China’s Intervention
New Zealand media reported that during the summit, PIF Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown had assured China’s Ambassador to the Pacific, Qian Bo, with the comment, ‘We’ll remove it,’ regarding the reference to Taiwan. Qian Bo remarked to journalists that the mention of Taiwan ‘must be a mistake’ and needed correction. Shortly after, the document was updated to exclude the reference to Taiwan.
US Response
In response to the incident, a US State Department spokesperson confirmed in an email that the US has been monitoring reports about changes to the PIF communique and the removal of references to Taiwan. This episode underscores the ongoing geopolitical struggle over Taiwan, rooted in the Chinese Civil War.
Geopolitical Struggle
The conflict began in 1949 when the Communist Party established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland, while the Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan, continuing to assert sovereignty over all of China. The tumultuous conclusion to the annual summit, where member nations stressed regional unity and resisted great powers’ attempts to exert influence, highlights the daunting challenge faced by some of the world’s smallest countries as they navigate the competing demands of larger nations that view them as strategic pawns in the global geopolitical landscape.
Doubts Revealed
US -: The US stands for the United States of America, a country in North America.
China -: China is a large country in East Asia, known for its vast population and rich history.
Taiwan -: Taiwan is an island near China that has its own government, but China claims it as part of its territory.
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) -: The Pacific Islands Forum is a group of 18 countries in the Pacific Ocean that work together on common issues.
communique -: A communique is an official statement or announcement made by a group or organization.
US State Department -: The US State Department is a part of the US government that deals with foreign countries and international relations.
geopolitical struggle -: A geopolitical struggle is a conflict or competition between countries over political power and influence in different parts of the world.
