Advertisement
Beijing offers development fund if Solomon Islands breaks diplomatic ties with Taipei
- Head of task force in South Pacific nation charged with evaluating diplomatic ties says Beijing will provide financial backing for ‘a certain period’
- But anti-corruption agency Transparency Solomon Islands urges caution in switching allegiance over concerns country will not be able to hold firm against Beijing’s interests
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0
China is offering to bankroll a development fund for the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific if it switches diplomatic ties from Taiwan to Beijing, a parliamentary committee in the small island nation has heard.
The proposal, which would replace a similar structure set-up by Taiwan, comes amid a global push by Beijing to peel away Taiwan’s allies. Only 17 countries now recognise Taiwan.
Beijing and Taipei have fought a tug of war for diplomatic recognition in the South Pacific for decades, with some island nations switching allegiances for financial gain.
John Moffat Fugui, a Solomons parliamentarian and head of a task force charged with evaluating diplomatic ties, said on Wednesday that Beijing would pay into a fund even though it usually preferred “grants, concessionary loans and sometimes gifts”.
“But for you, we will give you a [rural constituency development fund] for a certain period,” Fugui said, referring to recent negotiations with Beijing officials.
Advertisement