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RNZ News
4 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".
NHK
26-05-2025
- Politics
- NHK
UN sounds alarm after hundreds of Rohingya die at sea
The UN refugee agency says it is "gravely concerned" about reports that more than 400 Rohingya people died recently trying to cross the sea to safety. It calls for greater international support to help those fleeing persecution in Myanmar. The UNHCR was responding to reports that two boats carrying a total of over 500 refugees either sank or capsized off the Myanmar coast this month. An estimated 427 of them died, while only 87 survived. It says this would be this year's worst tragedy at sea involving the Muslim minority group. Over 700,000 people fled Myanmar to neighboring Bangladesh in 2016 and 2017 following military attacks. Most are now living in camps. But more and more are risking their lives to escape a dire situation by making a dangerous journey to another country. The UN agency says the humanitarian situation is being made worse by funding cuts, including those in the United States. It warns that more people may be driven to make the hazardous attempt to cross the ocean. The agency says it needs nearly 400 million dollars this year to help the refugees and support nearby host countries. It says only 30 percent of these funds have been collected so far.
Free Malaysia Today
20-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Syrian FM says sanctions relief shows ‘international will'
Asaad al-Shaibani said they welcomed investments. (EPA Images pic) DAMASCUS : Syria's foreign minister said on Tuesday that the lifting of sanctions on his country showed an 'international will' to support Damascus, after EU countries agreed to end the bloc's economic sanctions. In a press conference in Damascus alongside his Jordanian counterpart, Asaad al-Shaibani said that 'lifting sanctions expresses the regional and international will to support Syria', adding that 'the Syrian people today have a very important and historic opportunity to rebuild their country'. 'The plan today is to benefit from the lifting of sanctions. Anyone who wants to invest in Syria, the doors are open; anyone who wants to cooperate with Syria, there are no sanctions,' he added. Shaibani's statement came after European diplomats said in Brussels that the EU had given the green light to lifting all economic sanctions on Syria in an attempt to support the country's reconstruction following the December overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. EU foreign ministers are expected to officially announce their decision later on Tuesday. The move would follow US President Donald Trump's announcement last week that he was waiving sanctions on the war-torn country. Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, at the time called Trump's move 'a historic and courageous decision' that 'lays the foundations for stability in the region'. Western states had imposed a plethora of sanctions on Assad, his inner circle and the Syrian government as a whole throughout the 14-year civil war, which killed over half a million people. Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi congratulated Shaibani on the developments, saying Syria was now 'in a new phase, and Syria's success requires giving it a chance to succeed'. Lifting sanctions would provide the Syrian government with 'the capabilities it needs to serve its people and will allow the private sector in all countries of the world to work towards that', Safadi said. The EU had already suspended some restrictions on Syria's key economic sectors in February. Officials said these measures could be reimposed if Syria's new leaders do not fulfil their promises to respect minority rights and move towards democracy. Syria and Jordan also announced on Tuesday the formation of a higher coordination council between the two countries and the signing of a memorandum of understanding. 'We agreed on a roadmap to boost cooperation in the fields of energy, water, industry, trade and transport' as well as the health sector, Safadi said. Shaibani said that today's visit constituted 'a historic milestone in the history of both countries and a very important point in the future of the relationship between the two countries'.
Jordan Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
Fitch rating: A certificate of the stability of the Jordanian economy
The Jordanian economy enjoys international financial support, a positive global reputation and ability to meet debt obligations, which prompted international credit rating agencies, including Fitch, to affirm Jordan's long-term foreign currency rating at -BB with a stable outlook. This stabilization confirms the creditworthiness of the Jordanian economy and indicates the confidence of international credit institutions in Jordan despite regional shocks and increasing geopolitical risks due to the continuation of the war in Gaza in addition to the financial pressures arising from the slowdown in the global economy in general. This rating is a positive sign of the improvement in the financial performance of the Jordanian economy and the improvement of growth opportunities despite the high levels of public debt and pressures resulting from unemployment, indicating that the confirmation of Jordan's credit rating came as a result of economic and financial stability, prudent government spending, reducing the budget deficit, high levels of foreign reserves and improving the level of financial and administrative reforms arising from the vision of economic modernization and strengthening governance. The rating is reinforced by the availability of financing for the local economy, the strength of the banking sector and the continued international support to the Kingdom, as Jordan has maintained its economic stability despite high public debt, limited growth, and high current account deficit. The growth rates in the Jordanian economy are still below the level of desire, as the Jordanian economy achieved a growth of 2.5 per cent in 2024 due to the decline in tourism revenues and the decline in intra-regional trade as a result of regional conditions, while credit rating agencies, including Fitch, expect economic growth in Jordan to improve from 2.8 per cent to 3 per cent by the years 25 and 26, supported by the recovery of European tourism, high trade rates with Iraq and Syria and the implementation of strategic projects such as the National Carrier. As such, the government is required to continue adopting innovative economic initiatives that contribute to the recovery of the local economy and supporting economic openness.
