The Media Association of Solomon Islands (or MASI) has defended Taiwan's involvement in this year's Pacific Islands News Association's conference in Honiara.
Through its embassy in Papua New Guinea, China has protested against Taiwanese involvement in this May's journalists' conference, saying PINA should not be politicised by Taipei.
China says it is concerned that MASI has accepted funding of 65-thousand US dollars from Taipei for the conference, and is allowing a Taiwanese delegation to attend the conference.
But the official heading the MASI secretariat organising the conference, former MP, Alfred Sasako, says Taiwanese involvement is a non-issue.
He says both China and Taiwan have provided funding for PINA-related activities in the past, and are just two of a growing number of non-Pacific Island entities that attend PINA conferences.
"Both entities, as I've said before - mainland China and Taiwan - they participate in the post-Forum dialogue, so I see no reason why they should not be part of PINA. After all PINA is from the region, and is trying to promote media freedom."
Alfred Sasako.
