Taiwan accuses China of ‘coercion’ after Fiji envoy’s Taipei visit
TAIPEI: The Taipei Trade Office in Suva is accusing China of “coercion” after a senior Fijian diplomat visited Taipei last week.
China lashed out at Fiji last Thursday after the Fijian Ambassador to the United Nations, Filipo Tarakinikini, met Taiwan’s vice president – a move Beijing said violated the One China Policy.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed “strong dissatisfaction” and said that Beijing had made “solemn representations” to the Fijian government over the incident.
During a press briefing in Beijing, Mao emphasized China’s staunch opposition to any official interactions between countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China and Taiwan.
“The visit to Taiwan seriously violates Fiji’s political commitment to the one-China principle. The despicable actions of the Taiwan regime will get nowhere,” she said.
Fiji’s coalition government moved to appease Beijing on Friday, saying that it “reaffirms its commitment to the One China Policy” and “values its diplomatic relations with China, which are grounded in mutual respect and cooperation and its adherence to the principles of sovereignty and non-interference.”
Taipei Trade Office representative in Suva Joseph Chow told RNZ Pacific that it “regrets attempts by Beijing to pressure other countries over legitimate exchanges”.
“Taiwan is a sovereign and democratic nation whose government and people independently decide their international engagements,” Chow said.
Taiwan had never been governed by China, and its status was based on historical and democratic legitimacy, he said.
“Constructive engagement and mutual respect – not coercion – is the key to maintaining peace, development and resilience across the Blue Pacific,” he said.
– Rnz
