Pacific Islands Forum: Error blamed for Taiwan reference in leaders' communiquē

The Pacific Islands Forum says an administrative error is to blame for a reference to Taiwan in the leaders' communiquē following their weeklong summit in Tonga.

The reference to Taiwan was removed from the group's official statement after complaints reportedly from China's special envoy to the Pacific, Qian Bo, who attended the PIF leaders meeting in Nuku'alofa last week.

The announcement from the 18-member forum members included a section titled 'Relations with Taiwan/Republic of China'.

The communiquē, released and posted on PIF's website on Friday, stated that the leaders had "reaffirmed the 1992 decision on relations with Taiwan/Republic of China".

Qian is reported to have expressed his disappointment to the PIF officials, notably to former forum chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown who was filmed assuring China's top diplomat in the Pacific that it (the reference) would be removed.

The statement was removed from the PIF's website and a new document was posted on Saturday with the reference to Taiwan deleted.

Qian fronted journalists in Tonga, saying there had been a "mistake" and he had demanded that PIF make a "correction".

A video posted to social media by RNZ Pacific reporter Lydia Lewis showed Ambassador Qian shaking hands with Brown, who tells Qian, "We'll remove it".

China has maintained that Taiwan is one of its provinces with no right to any state-to-state relations.

But the Taiwanese government has condemned Beijing for its "irrational behaviour" which undermines regional peace and stability.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) called on the Pacific Islands Forum and like-minded countries to keep close tabs on Beijing's actions to safeguard the harmonious and stable development of the region.

Pacific leaders on retreat in Vava'u last week. Photo/PIF

MOFA said in a statement that the communiquē would not affect Taiwan's status in the PIF or its right to future participation.

Taiwan also thanked its diplomatic allies' support for the Asian nation's continued participation in the PIF.

The Pacific Islands Forum has denied it removed the reference to Taiwan under pressure from China.

A spokesperson for the forum secretariat told the ABC there was an administrative error, adding that the PIF had reissued the correct version of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Communiquē.

"The version as finalised does not change nor impact the decisions of the meeting, nor any standing decisions of the forum leaders.

"The communique is a consensus-based document, reflecting the agreed decisions and views of all the Pacific Islands Forum."

Watch Taiwan Representative in New Zealand Joanne Ou's interview about the increased aggression of China towards Taiwan.

A source close to the PIF told PMN News that while the regional body was aware of Qian's furious response, the forum secretariat removed the communiquē because it was not the document that the leaders had agreed on.

Of the 18 forum member states, three - Tuvalu, Palau, and the Marshall Islands - have diplomatic ties to Taiwan while the rest recognise China.

The Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and Nauru are the most recent Pacific nations to sever ties with Taiwan in place of China.

They are also against the United States territories - Guam and American Samoa's - bid to join the PIF, with the Solomons' officials saying the membership status of the forum should be for independent countries only. However, New Caledonia, a French territory, is a member of the PIF.

Solomons' officials have been pushing other Pacific nations to strip Taiwan of its status as a "development partner" for the PIF.

Despite Taiwan gaining limited access to some parts of the annual leaders' gathering in Tonga, Solomons' Foreign Secretary Collin Beck made it clear they do not recognise Taiwan.

This issue may resurface next year when Honiara hosts the leaders' summit and Solomons Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele assumes the forum chair.

Solomon Islands Foreign Secretary Collin Beck says they do not recognise Taiwan. Photo/IISD