Latest news with #PacificIslandsForum
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Palau president wants Taiwan to get a fair go at PIF
President Surangel Whipps Jr. at his first state visit to Taiwan in May 2025 after the inauguration of his second term. Photo: Supplied/ Office of the President Palau's president wants to see Taiwan given full access at this year's Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' meeting. It was great to see 17 out of 18 leaders in Tonga for last year's meeting, Surangel Whipps Jr said - a sense of unity he wants to continue. "That's the record since we've gotten back together. Let's ensure that that continues, because that's what we need to see." He said he has heard that "there's been some difficulty in Taiwan gaining access". Whipps asked the PIF team to make sure they are doing all that it's responsible to do, to make sure the forum conference is a success, and everybody's there that's supposed to be able to participate. A Solomon Islands Government spokesperson said at this stage the government is not in a position to comment on participation or related arrangements for the PIF Leaders' Summit. They pointed out that the registration process for the summit has not yet opened and formal invitations will be issued in due course. "As host, Solomon Islands continues to work closely with the Forum Secretariat and Forum Member countries on all preparations." Whipps has just arrived back from a state visit to Taiwan, where its foreign minister Lin Chia-lung expressed his country's appreciation for Palau's consistent support on the international stage. Three Forum members - Tuvalu, Palau and Marshall Islands - have diplomatic ties with Taiwan and not China. Taiwan has been a development partner since 1992. China has been a dialogue partner of the PIF since 1990. Last year, RNZ Pacific captured China's representative to the meeting in Tonga asking Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown to change the final communique which recognised Taiwan and China separately. Earlier this month, Solomon Islands' prime minister Jeremiah Manele warned government workers against engaging with "Taiwan". In a statement, Jeremiah Manele reaffirmed his government's commitment to the One-China Policy. The ABC reported a newly appointed government minister was pressured by China to quit an international group critical of its policies. Beijing's Embassy in Honiara said the allegations are baseless. It said China will never interfere in Solomon Islands internal affairs and also firmly oppose any other countries' interference in Solomon Islands' internal affairs. The president of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, and top diplomats from Niue, Tonga, Nauru, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa have been in China for a two-day meeting. In a joint statement, published to the website of China's foreign affairs ministry, the parties said: "All parties recognize that there is but one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. "China firmly opposes 'Taiwan independence' in all forms and commits to realizing national reunification, which has gained wide understanding and support at the meeting. "China firmly supports Pacific Island countries in upholding their sovereignty and independence." Meanwhile, a regional architecture review (RRA) has entered its final stage. It's the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' response to the increasing interest from a growing number of Forum dialogue partners wanting a seat - and a say - at the regional decision-making table. Palau's president has made it clear to the RRA committee that, "it is important that all our partners are able to be present at PIF".
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Palau president wants to Taiwan to get a fair go at PIF
President Surangel Whipps Jr. at his first state visit to Taiwan in May 2025 after the inauguration of his second term. Photo: Supplied/ Office of the President Palau's president wants to see Taiwan given full access at this year's Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' meeting. It was great to see 17 out of 18 leaders in Tonga for last year's meeting, Surangel Whipps Jr said - a sense of unity he wants to continue. "That's the record since we've gotten back together. Let's ensure that that continues, because that's what we need to see." He said he has heard that "there's been some difficulty in Taiwan gaining access". Whipps asked the PIF team to make sure they are doing all that it's responsible to do, to make sure the forum conference is a success, and everybody's there that's supposed to be able to participate. A Solomon Islands Government spokesperson said at this stage the government is not in a position to comment on participation or related arrangements for the PIF Leaders' Summit. They pointed out that the registration process for the summit has not yet opened and formal invitations will be issued in due course. "As host, Solomon Islands continues to work closely with the Forum Secretariat and Forum Member countries on all preparations." Whipps has just arrived back from a state visit to Taiwan, where its foreign minister Lin Chia-lung expressed his country's appreciation for Palau's consistent support on the international stage. Three Forum members - Tuvalu, Palau and Marshall Islands - have diplomatic ties with Taiwan and not China. Taiwan has been a development partner since 1992. China has been a dialogue partner of the PIF since 1990. Last year, RNZ Pacific captured China's representative to the meeting in Tonga asking Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown to change the final communique which recognised Taiwan and China separately. Earlier this month, Solomon Islands' prime minister Jeremiah Manele warned government workers against engaging with "Taiwan". In a statement, Jeremiah Manele reaffirmed his government's commitment to the One-China Policy. The ABC reported a newly appointed government minister was pressured by China to quit an international group critical of its policies. Beijing's Embassy in Honiara said the allegations are baseless. It said China will never interfere in Solomon Islands internal affairs and also firmly oppose any other countries' interference in Solomon Islands' internal affairs. The president of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, and top diplomats from Niue, Tonga, Nauru, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa have been in China for a two-day meeting. In a joint statement, published to the website of China's foreign affairs ministry, the parties said: "All parties recognize that there is but one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. "China firmly opposes 'Taiwan independence' in all forms and commits to realizing national reunification, which has gained wide understanding and support at the meeting. "China firmly supports Pacific Island countries in upholding their sovereignty and independence." Meanwhile, a regional architecture review (RRA) has entered its final stage. It's the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' response to the increasing interest from a growing number of Forum dialogue partners wanting a seat - and a say - at the regional decision-making table. Palau's president has made it clear to the RRA committee that, "it is important that all our partners are able to be present at PIF".
RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Palau advocated for Taiwan participation at Pac Islands Forum
Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. says if Taiwan is booted out of this year's Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Solomon Islands, the conference must be relocated.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
China to host Pacific foreign ministers for first in-person summit in Xiamen
Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the meeting in Xiamen scheduled for 28-29 May. Photo: AP / Mark Schiefelbein, file photo Pacific Islands foreign ministers will be gathering in Fujian province for the third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting this week. In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry said Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the meeting in Xiamen scheduled for 28-29 May. It said "it will be the first of its kind to be held offline in China." Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters at a daily news briefing on last Wednesday that foreign ministers or representatives from 11 island countries that have diplomatic relations with China, and the Pacific Islands Forum deputy secretary general Esala Nayasi will attend the meeting. Mao said that the participants will have in-depth exchanges of views on all-round cooperation between China and Pacific Island countries, as well as on international and regional issues of mutual interest. China is ready to leverage the upcoming meeting to implement the important consensuses reached by leaders of both sides, strengthen solidarity and coordination, pursue common development and prosperity, she said. she said the objective of the meeting is to jointly build an even closer China-Pacific Island countries community with a shared future. Mao said China highly value its ties with the Pacific Island countries, and friendly cooperation between the two sides has continued to deepen and expand in recent years. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, those attending include:
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
‘Preferred partner': Baron Waqa calls for stronger US commitment
By 'Alakihihifo Vailala , PMN Pacific Islands Forum SG Baron Waqa, left, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met in Wellington last week. Photo: Facebook / Christopher Luxon Baron Waqa, the secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, says the United States continues to be the region's partner of choice, but adds that there is a need for greater involvement from Washington on crucial issues like climate change. Waqa reassures Pacific communities and international partners that regional leaders are more united and determined than ever, despite recent diplomatic tensions involving New Zealand, Kiribati, and the Cook Islands. During his official visit to New Zealand this week, Waqa gave an exclusive interview to PMN News . He described current disagreements between Forum members as natural and healthy. "It's not uncommon," Waqa says. "We've had in the past many rifts, they just don't see things eye-to-eye, but that's quite healthy, there's a show of maturity in our family. "But at the end of the day, there's still that respect for each other as members of this bigger, greater foreign family, which is good." Waqa's comments come in light of New Zealand's cancellation of its $102 million development programme with Kiribati and the lack of consultation from the Cook Islands over a comprehensive partnership agreement signed earlier this year with China. "The forum stands ready to assist if there's any real concern there by anyone and wanting our assistance to mediate them," the former Nauruan President says, adding that no official request has been made as yet. Waqa also met with NZ Deputy PM Winston Peters during his official visit to New Zealand. Photo: X / Winston Peters Waqa reflects on recent meetings with international partners, including discussions with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. "The partnership between the United States and the Pacific is very, very important, and that's what we're hearing from them as well," Waqa says. "That is, I think, the most important for the Pacific because we want to engage with America, with the United States and they are our preferred partner." He says that despite disagreements on issues like climate change, the need for more US involvement in the Pacific is vital to changing perspectives. "That means we can continue to discuss our concerns, our vulnerability. We have to present it to them so they understand. "No, I'm not too concerned because we have to respect them; they just came out of a big election, a big win for them, so no, we can discuss climate issues with them, why not, why not." Waqa also addresses ongoing discussions about visa-free travel between Pacific nations and New Zealand. "We know very well that New Zealand decide for themselves, but we always ask them and we're always putting it to them to consider having some kind of a reciprocal arrangement with the rest of us." Looking ahead to the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting in the Solomon Islands, Waqa emphasises that Pacific leaders are focused on asserting the region's collective priorities, particularly climate change, economic resilience, and the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF). He says United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has been invited to attend this year's meeting. "They'll probably be sending some senior officials as well, but he'll be in the Pacific then. He's intending to attend some important programmes, but we would like to coordinate and see how well we can fit him into our own programme, the PIF leaders." -This article was first published by PMN .
