Fiji Taipei office closure raises eyebrows

Transcript

SALLY ROUND: An opposition Taiwanese legislator Lu Xiuyen revealed the closure this week, and she claimed the move had been orchestrated by China to embarrass Taiwan. It comes amid a sharp decline in cross strait ties since the inauguration of the Taiwanese president Tsai Ingwen a year ago. Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister downplayed the closure saying Fiji as a small country was forced to close it for economic reasons. The Chinese foreign ministry when it was questioned whether it had pressured Fiji merely reiterated the One China Policy.

DON WISEMAN: What's the likelihood China did pressure Fiji?

SR: Well it's hardly coincidental the closure came just a few days before the Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama arrived in Beijing to attend this major Belt and Road summit put on by China earlier in the week. He was reported to be the only Pacific leader among 30 world leaders to attend what's been described as a kind of showcase for China's plan to create a trade, financial and culture network stretching from East Asia to Europe,  even stretching down to its friends in the Pacific. Mr Bainimarama also held talks with the Chinese president Xi Jin Ping and the premier Li Keqiang.

DW: Do you think there's any link to Fiji's leading role at the next climate change talks?

SR: According to fiji government statements on the talks Fiji did ask the Chinese leaders for help for Fiji's presidency of the talks known as Cop 23 to be held in Bonn. This  Cop 23 presidency is a big coup, so to speak, for Mr Bainimarama who has been shining a light on the Pacific's vulnerability to climate change and who has become something of a climate warrior in the past couple of years. But he's had trouble getting funds to host the talks. He's complained only recently that there's been a disappointing response to Fiji's appeal for funds to host the talks. We wait to see what more China will commit to Fiji. It's given some funds already. But Mr Bainimarama no doubt relished the spotlight rubbing shoulders with the top Chinese brass. Has China pressured Fiji over the Taiwan closure? Perhaps and perhaps it's also a sign Fiji knows best which side its bread is buttered having received millions of dollars in Chinese aid over the last decade.