US-China Rivalry Colors Pacific Island Leaders' Meeting

Beijing's efforts to limit Taiwan's participation in the recently concluded Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) underscore the intense and ongoing tug-of-war between Western democracies and China for influence in the region, analysts say. During the summit, which ended on Friday, Beijing’s ally Solomon Islands tried but failed to block Taiwan from future participation in the forum. Then, on Saturday, the PIF removed references to Taiwan from its final communique after China’s top Pacific diplomat expressed anger at Taiwan’s inclusion. The “agreed” communique initially reaffirmed a 30-year-old agreement allowing Taiwan to take part in the Forum. That agreement was later scrapped. Beijing’s communist leaders insist that democratically-ruled Taiwan is part of China and have sought for decades to limit the island’s participation in international organizations. After the reference to Taiwan was removed, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday, “Taiwan expresses its strongest condemnation of China’s arbitrary interference and unreasonable actions that undermine regional peace and stability.” However, the ministry said the revision did not damage Taiwan’s status in the PIF or prevent it from participating in the future. Asia Group senior adviser Kathryn Paik, who co-chaired the creation of the first US-Pacific Islands Forum summit while she was on …

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US-China Rivalry Colors Pacific Island Leaders' Meeting

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