Taiwan diplomat injured after scuffle with China counterpart
Both countries blame each other after fisticuffs in Fiji
China and Taiwan traded accusations on Monday over a violent altercation that broke out between Chinese diplomats and Taiwan government employees at a recent Taiwan National Day reception in Fiji.
Both China and Taiwan confirmed the October. 8 incident but each disputed the other’s claim of what precipitated the fight, which resulted in one Taiwanese staffer being sent to a hospital with a head injury. One of the Chinese diplomats also was injured.
Lost focus
The confrontation, an extreme example of the tensions between the rival governments, erupted when Taiwanese at the gathering tried to stop Chinese diplomats from taking photos of guests at the reception marking Taiwan’s national day and disrupting the event, according to a statement from Taiwan’s foreign ministry.
“We strongly condemn the violence against our diplomat in Fiji by China’s uncivilised “wolf warriors,” Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu said on Twitter. “As a sovereign state, we’ll continue celebrating # TaiwanNationalDay everywhere, every year. Taiwan is a force for good in theworld& we won’t be intimidated.”
Protest lodged
The ministry said Taiwan had made a formal protest to the Fiji government.
China’s embassy in Fiji said in a statement released Monday that Taiwan’s account was “inconsistent with the facts.” It said one of its staff also was injured.
China’s response
“On that very evening, the staff of the Taipei Trade Office in Fiji acted provocatively against the Chinese Embassy staff who were carrying out their official duties in the public area outside the function venue, causing injuries and damage to one Chinese diplomat,” the statement said.
The Chinese side also criticised the National Day celebration, saying it “violates the one-China principle and the relevant rules and regulations of the Fijian government.