Following an unexpected trip to China by the Solomon Islands' foreign minister, public outcry favoring Taipei has led that nation's government to vow to take "positive measures" to reaffirm ties with Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday.
"The Solomon Islands' prime minister told our ambassador on Thursday that he understood how his foreign minister's move has triggered protests in Taiwan. He vowed to take positive measures soon to prove that ties between the two countries remain unchanged," said Joseph Shih (石定), director-general of MOFA's Department of East Asia and Pacific Affairs, in a press conference yesterday.
Shih refused to clarify what he meant by "positive" measures.
The South Pacific state's foreign minister Danny Philip was invited by Taipei to attend its National Day celebration and open the country's embassy in Taiwan. But Philip never showed up, instead visiting Beijing to seek financial aid. The move triggered speculation that the crisis-torn state was to drop Taipei to recognize Beijing.
But following an emergency Cabinet meeting on Tuesday which focused on the country's diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare told Taiwanese officials during Taiwan's National Day reception held in the Solomon Islands that Philip's visit would not sabotage the cordial diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Shih quoted Sogavare as saying that Philip's trip to Beijing was not sanctioned by the Cabinet and he visited China in a personal capacity.
But Philip's move has already triggered complaints in Taiwan. MOFA has protested to the Solomon Islands government through diplomatic channels, and some lawmakers said Taiwan should recall its ambassador as a way to punish Philip's actions.
Although it is not clear when Philip was to return from Beijing, public opinion in the Solomon Islands has favored Taipei, Teng Pei-yin (鄧備殷), Taiwan's ambassador to the Solomon Islands, said by phone.
Teng provided the Taipei Times with a recent editorial from the Solomon Star, the only English-language daily in the country, which described Philip's move as "a diplomatic embarrassment." The editorial said "the right thing for the prime minister to do is remove him [Philip] from the foreign affairs portfolio when he arrives back." Teng also said he heard from a radio report yesterday that the Solomon Islands Nurses' Association had issued a statement favoring continued ties with Taipei "because we've offered some assistance to enhance medical services in the country," Teng said, adding that Taiwan has subsidized the central hospital there since 1994.
Opposition leaders in the Solomon Islands also condemned Philip's move and voiced support for continuing ties with Taipei, Teng added.
"General public opinion is on our side," said Teng.
The country requested US$20 million from Taiwan to assist with the country's rehabilitation plan following a severe two-year ethnic conflict, but MOFA declined to make an offer so far. Solomon Islands officials said Philip went to Beijing because he claimed that "there was a better deal offered there in terms of financial assistance" and he decided to explore the possibility of reaching a deal.
"Maybe he thinks he can make a tremendous contribution to his country if he can gain some financial support from Beijing, but I think he's a bit naive in this regard as Beijing normally won't pay until the country establishes ties with China," said Shih.
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