After 17 years of a rather comfortable patron-client relationship, the Solomon Islands got greedy, decided that if it was selling its virtue it might as well be to the highest bidder. Much to the Solomons' discomfort, Beijing didn't open its checkbook and the Solomons had to about turn on the double. But seeing that the golden egg-laying Taiwan goose was already choking on chagrin d'amour, trying to blame the entire situation on the inexperience of foreign minister Tien Hung-mao
Now the Solomons' government has apologized and indicated that its prime minister will visit Taiwan in an attempt to mend the rift. But it is hard to see how any trust can be restored.
That is a shame. After all, Taiwan and the Solomons Islands have had diplomatic ties for 17 years. Taiwan has helped the Solomons' agriculture and fisheries industries, as well as providing financial aid, while the Solomons has consistently supported Taiwan's entry into the UN. Overall, the two have enjoyed a very harmonious relationship.
A cease-fire agreement in this past June ended a two-year-long civil war in the Solomons. Facing massive post-war reconstruction and reparations, the government became desperate for money. The country requested US$60 million in aid for reconstruction, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has yet to make a decision on the request. This is key to the diplomatic rift.
The Solomons did not support Taiwan's bid for UN entry this year, raising a red flag about the state of ties. The Solomons' foreign minister, Denny Philip, met with Taiwan's deputy foreign minister Wu Tzu-dan
The Solomons premier then put on a "good cop, bad cop" act, indicating that the heart of his country remained with Taiwan. However, on the 18th, he issued a statement declaring an end to diplomatic ties with Taiwan and saying the country would instead favor China. Yet the next day, another statement was issued, declaring that ties with Taiwan remained intact. However, that statement criticized Tien Hung-mao, calling him inexperienced and disrespectful.
The Solomons' pursuit of self-interest is certainly understandable. However, exploiting the unique situation across the Taiwan Strait and using diplomatic ties as bargaining chips is simply unacceptable. The country has cheapened itself and insulted others.
Taiwan's sovereign integrity should in no event be impugned. The Solomons attempted to place the blame for the rift on the "changing power in Taiwan and the inexperience of Taiwan's minister of foreign affairs." Utter nonsense and shameless to boot. What is being suggested here? That the new government's policy is confused because it doesn't open its pockets to the Solomons immediately? That Tien Hung-mao is a foreign policy neophyte?
These are of course simply excuses to cast a more favorable interpretation on what otherwise seems clearly like the Solomons' prostituting itself. None of this would have mattered had Taiwan accepted the Solomons' aid demand. MOFA has indicated that it does not rule out the possibility of severing diplomatic ties with the Solomons. In view of the state of relations, Taiwan might as well cut ties now and end what will only prove to be an agony of suspense. Even if links are maintained, Taiwan would simply be substantiating its reputation for dollar diplomacy.
If Taiwan continues her obsession with the quantity of diplomatic ties rather than their quality, it will forever remain open to exploitation and extortion. Leave it to China to buy friendships -- Taiwan can stand on its own merits.
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