Pacific Forum censored Taiwan from leader's communiqué, no statement why [1]
Monday, September 2, 2024 - 23:32
By Katalina Siasau
The Pacific Islands Forum has censored Taiwan from its leader's communiqué that was announced on Friday, 30 August, to members of the media at Fa’onelua Convention Centre by Troika.
The Forum communiqué's publication followed its official announced on Friday, 30 August, at a press conference held at 3:30pm, by Troika, Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, Cook Islands Prime Minister Hon. Mark Brown, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele, and Forum SG Baron Waqa. The communiqué was drafted in Vava'u at the leader's retreat.
The published communiqué had a section titled: Relations with Taiwan/Republic of China: 66. Leaders reaffirmed the 1992 Leaders decision on relations with Taiwan/Republic of China.
A new version however, dated 30 August, has censored and replaced section 66.
Tonga's Prime Minister's press on Facebook, who shared the first version of the communiqué on Friday, has taken it down.
However, there had been no official statement made by the Forum's Secretariat on the reason why they made the change.
Lisa Williams-Lahari of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat team in Tonga, confirmed to news media in an email on 1 September that: “the Secretariat re-issued the correct version of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Communique.
“The version as finalised does not change nor impact the decisions of the meeting, nor any standing decisions of the Forum Leaders.
“The Communique is a consensus based document, reflecting the agreed decisions and views of all the Pacific Islands Forum,” she stated
Taiwan's Pacific Islands allies
There are three PIF members who recognize Taiwan as separate to China, which are the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and Tuvalu.
The People’s Republic of China’s had a delegation at the PIF meeting, which was led by Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs of the Chinese Government, H.E. Mr. Qian Bo.
While in Tonga, H.E. Mr. Qian Bo held meetings with Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala, Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, and also held dialogues with Forum dialogue partners.