EDITORIAL: PIF presence step in right direction

The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) took place from Aug. 30 to Friday last week in Palau. Unlike last year, Taiwan this time had a strong presence at the event, in a diplomatic setback to China.

While Taiwan-China tensions featured prominently at the forum, Beijing’s disruption of the meeting with its “wolf warrior” diplomacy was the focus.

Ahead of the event, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the PIF and Palau to adhere to the “one China” principle in handling Taiwan’s participation. Then, in retaliation against Ngerulmud’s decision to invite Taipei, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism warned its citizens to be wary of traveling to Palau.

Chinese Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs Qian Bo (錢波) even said: “There will be consequences when China is unhappy.”

As Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr had insisted on the forum’s autonomous right to invite non-member partners, Taiwan sent a large delegation, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). They were warmly welcomed during “Taiwan night.” Lin was also invited to make a rare appearance at the opening ceremony of the PIF leaders’ summit.

Taiwan and its three diplomatic allies in the region — Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands — signed a joint statement pledging to work more closely. The US also announced that it is working with Taiwan and other partners to support the development of hospitals and drinking water sampling facilities in Palau.

In another diplomatic setback for China, the leaders’ summit released a joint communique expressing concerns over Beijing firing an intercontinental ballistic missile that fell into South Pacific waters without adequate notice, saying that such tests should “ensure transparency and eliminate doubts, including by providing at least 24 hours’ notice in accordance with international practice.”

Despite these setbacks, China’s growing influence in the region cannot be overlooked. Over the past few years, Beijing has caused divisions and geopolitical rivalry in the region, testing the solidarity of Pacific island nations.

For example, the PIF’s host country last year, the Solomon Islands, barred all non-member countries from the event after Beijing pressured it to block Taipei’s participation. That risked the loss of international support for the PIF and infringed on the sovereignty of countries in the region.

Additionally, Nauru opposed the joint communique criticizing China’s missile test, while Kiribati did not attend the negotiations, which showed that the two nations’ expanding ties with Beijing is undermining the unity of Pacific island countries in safeguarding regional security and stability.

China’s deepening cooperation with Pacific island nations in policing, security and infrastructure has also alerted Western democracies that the Pacific region — which is home to strategic facilities and resources such as ports, submarine cables, fisheries, maritime surveillance, seabed minerals and military corridors — has become the front line of strategic jockeying in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the PIF, the US in a statement pledged its commitment to the security and prosperity of Pacific island nations. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also announced more than US$150 million in funding to support nations in the region.

Meanwhile, Australia pledged a A$600 million (US$432.54 million) package to help Pacific island nations combat transnational drug trafficking, and signed defense and cooperation agreements with countries in the region to limit China’s influence.

As for Taiwan, the PIF this year showed that Taipei’s status as “development partner” since 1993 remained unchanged, and it is set to be included in next year’s forum in New Zealand. China would likely ramp up efforts to pressure nations into obstructing Taiwan’s international participation.

As most nations grapple with more imminent threats such as rising sea levels, extreme weather, inadequate healthcare and fragile national finances, Taiwan should use its soft power and help Pacific island countries achieve sustainable development goals, and establish a replicable and scalable model of cooperation that could solidify more mutually beneficial relations in the region.

Taiwan cannot compete with China in terms of financial diplomacy or military coercion. Taipei should instead offer help that would not cause small countries to lose autonomy, make allies feel the value of cooperation and show the world that Taiwan could be a partner in Pacific governance.