Xi woos Pacific islands to drop recognition of Taiwan
PORT MORESBY ( Papua New Guinea):
Chinese leader Xi Jinping sat down with seven Pacific island allies, doling out attention and perhaps some largesse in the hope of convincing more nations to drop recognition of Taiwan.
While countries have vied for resource contracts and influence along vital Pacific shipping routes, the region has also become a frontline in the diplomatic war between Beijing and Taipei, which is struggling to retain support amid China’s dramatic economic rise.
“Xi is not going to show up empty handed” when he meets leaders from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu in Port Moresby, said Jonathan Pryke of Australia’s Lowy Institute yesterday.
“Almost a full third of Taiwan’s remaining support base is in the Pacific islands region. Chequebook diplomacy is alive and well in this part of the world.”
For small countries, it has become more and more costly to forego relations with China, the world’s second-largest economy – a fact Beijing has been keen to exploit.
Some Latin American countries have switched sides in recent years.
El Salvador’s leader recently received a hero’s welcome in Beijing – complete with red carpets and military band – after his country decided to switch recognition.
Taiwan’s dwindling support base means it has less leverage to join multilateral organisations and less support inside the ones it has already joined when Beijing decides to turn the screw.