Taiwan, China officials scuffle at Fiji soiree

TAIPEI: Taiwan and China traded accusations yesterday over a physical clash between their diplomats at a reception in Fiji - with Beijing revealing that a cake helped fuel the dust-up. Taipei accused two Chinese officials of gatecrashing an event at the luxurious Grand Pacific Hotel in the Fijian capital Suva on Oct 8 and assaulting an employee. Taiwan’s foreign ministry said its trade office - its de facto embassy - was hosting a party for 100 distinguished guests to celebrate Taiwan’s National Day.

They claim the two Chinese officials began taking pictures of guests and when asked to leave assaulted an official, putting him in hospital. “We strongly condemn the actions by the Chinese embassy in Fiji staff for seriously violating the rule of law and civilized code of conduct,” Taiwan foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said.

China gave a different version of events. Beijing’s embassy in Fiji confirmed its officials were in a “public area outside the function venue” on unspecified “official duties” on the day of the incident. But it claimed the Taiwanese mission’s staff “acted provocatively” and caused “injuries and damage to one Chinese diplomat”.

In a briefing yesterday, China’s foreign ministry revealed its officials were aware of details from inside the function, including a cake emblazoned with Taiwan’s flag. “A false national flag was openly displayed at the scene, the cake was also marked with a false national flag,” spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters. Taipei said the Chinese diplomats were taken away by the police and “falsely claimed” that they had been attacked.

Both sides said they had asked the Fijian police and other island authorities to investigate. A Fiji police spokeswoman told AFP the probe was ongoing and officers were working with the Pacific nation’s foreign affairs ministry. She declined to provide further details. Fiji’s foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.