Pacific Islands Forum Bows to Beijing’s Demand to Delete Reference to Taiwan

A single line saying the Forum reaffirmed a 1992 commitment to viewing Taiwan as a ‘development partner’ was removed.

Leaders pose for a photo at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, on Aug. 26, 2024. Ben Mckay/AAP Image via AP

For over three decades, the final communique from the Pacific Islands Forum’s (PIF) leader meeting has included a seemingly innocuous paragraph reaffirming a decision, originally made in 1992, to welcome Taiwan as a “development partner” in the region.

It was one of 76 paragraphs in this year’s missive, sitting amongst other topics from the contentious (New Caledonia) to the mundane (the date of the next meeting).