Shaky diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the Solomon Islands were not improved yesterday when ministers from the South Pacific state offered contradictory explanations for foreign minister Danny Philip's no-show in Taipei.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂) said Philip's cancelation was "out of the ordinary."
He said Taiwan was keeping a close eye on China because of reports claiming Beijing would offer financial aid to the Solomon Islands in return for withdrawing diplomatic recognition to Taiwan.
Philip was scheduled to arrive in Taipei last Friday, but has failed to show up, triggering speculation his no-show is linked to the rumored switch in ties from Taipei to Beijing.
But, sources in the Solomon Islands' foreign ministry said Philip postponed his trip because the government wanted him to take part in three-day peace talks between the country's two warring parties -- to be held in Australia starting today.
"The government wants him to attend the peace talks," said Lucian Kii, permanent secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs in the Solomon Islands.
"Because he is the foreign minister, he plays a leading role in dealing with the foreign ministry people in Australia ... People at home are more concerned with domestic issues, so it's very important for Danny to attend these peace talks," Kii said.
Around 130 Solomon islanders left yesterday for Australia on three Hercules -- offered by the Australian Airforce -- to attend peace talks scheduled to begin in Townsville in Queensland today, sources at the country's department of national unity, reconciliation and peace told the Taipei Times by phone.
But reports from the Solomon Islands reported yesterday thet the country's Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said Philip postponed his trip to Taipei because of political uncertainty in Taiwan triggered by the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
Sogavare said the Solomon Islands was waiting for the political shakeout in Taipei to end before sending its foreign minister to open the country's embassy, related reports said.
After 17 years of diplomatic ties, Honiara was to upgrade its consular office in Taipei to embassy status yesterday, but the ceremony was cancelled "for some reason," said one staffer at the consulate.
The country's ambassador to Taipei, Seth Gukuna refused to be interviewed as of yesterday.
Responding to the confused explanations from the Solomon Islands over the no-show of its foreign minister in Taipei, Taiwan's foreign minister Tien denounced Sogavare's reported claims.
"There was some news of their concern about our political instability -- in light of the Cabinet reshuffle -- but this in no way means our overall political situation is unstable. It must be related to some other issue," Tien said.
He said Philip might be attending peace talks today, as claimed by foreign ministry officials in the Solomon Islands, but the real story surrounding his no-show in Taipei was, as yet, unclear.
"The warring parties are entering peace talks in Australia and I do believe the foreign minister may be involved in that effort ... But at this point we are still checking," Tien said.
"It's a bit out of the ordinary that he has not shown up as he had previously promised ... The switch of ties hasn't happened, but it has raised concerns."
Tien said instability triggered by the two-year civil war had offered Beijing a window of opportunity to lure the country to switch ties.
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