25 Aug 2008

Taiwan calls on Pacific Forum to allow it to be a proper Dialogue Partner

7:41 pm on 25 August 2008

Taiwan says being forced to meet off site during the Pacific Islands Forum summit with the countries in the region that give it diplomatic support, is unsatsfactory.

During the Post Forum Dialogue on Niue last week Taiwan had to meet with Nauru, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Palau, at a motel several kilometres from the main Forum venue.

All seven countries have issued a statement criticising the Forum for its stance.

Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrew Li-Yan Hsia says his country, which built itself up through donor aid, has a lot to offer the region, and they want a different approach by the Forum.

"We are really sincere in trying to reach out to countries in the region. All these projects we have mentioned not just benefit our diplomatic allies, but to benefit all the countries in this region, so we certainly hope there will be a coming to our dialogue [to] make this Forum Dialogue more meaningful, more comprehensive."

Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrew Hsia.

The Forum's stance on Taiwan is to appease China, which is an official Dialogue partner.