LIES IN SOLOMON ISLANDS REPORT, SAYS TAIWAN MINISTRY

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Saturday declined to confirm or deny reports that China had offered US$500 million (FJ$1087.52m) to the Solomon Islands to cut ties with Taiwan. The ministry blasted a report by a Solomon Islands task force, which it said was full of misinformation.

Rumours that the Pacific ally is to switch allegiance from Taipei to Beijing have been circulating since the Solomon Islands held a general election in April. Speculation reached new heights after Solomon Islands Prime Minister

Manasseh Sogavare last week made the explosive remarks that Taiwan’s politics and economy are “completely useless” in the Pacific region. Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi last month reportedly offered US$500 million (FJ$ 1087.52m) in aid to a task force visiting from the Solomon Islands if the nation would switch recognition before China’s National Day on October 1, Chinese-language Up Media reported last Friday.

To counter any outcry in the Solomon Islands from the general public, Beijing also promised to send medical and agricultural missions to Honiara — as Taiwan has been doing — although the missions might be operated by Changsheng Biotechnology Co and state-owned Wuhan Institute of Biological Products Co, which were implicated last year in making bogus animal and human vaccines, the report said. Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou on Saturday reiterated the government’s warning to its allies about the traps concealed in Beijing’s offers.