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Beijing held online meetings with the Pacific and Caribbean island nations to discuss Covid-19 and ask for support for the “One China” policy.
Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Trinh Trach Quang participated in an online conference with representatives of 10 Pacific Island nations on May 13 to discuss China’s plans to provide medical aid and supplies to these countries. anti-Covid-19.
The Vanuatu media reported that the Pacific island nations expressed “strong support for the One China policy” during the conference. According to announcements from Chinese embassies in various Pacific countries and Australia, participating countries have called for opposition to all of Covid-19’s “political” efforts.
Chinese Vice Minister Trinh Trach Quang at a conference with Pacific island nations on 5/13. Image: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“They also praised China for an open, transparent and responsible approach in applying timely and drastic responses, and in sharing anti-epidemic experiences,” the statement said.
The China-Pacific Conference comes a day after Beijing organized a conference with nine Caribbean nations and just before the World Health Assembly (WHA), scheduled to open on August 2. May 18. The resolution calls for an investigation into Covid-19, a measure Beijing is opposed to, which will be debated at WHA.
China expressed anger at Australia’s call to investigate the origin of nCoV and accused the United States of inciting other countries to support Taiwan to participate in the WHA conference as observers. Under the “One China” policy, Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory waiting for unity. The island was not allowed to attend meetings of the World Health Organization (WHO), because Beijing was supposed to represent them.
Taiwan maintains diplomatic relations primarily with the Pacific and Caribbean island nations. After losing two Pacific allies, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, last year, Taiwan sent anti-Covid-19 aid to the remaining island nations to support them. 14/15 of Taiwan’s allies have asked WHO to allow the island to attend the WHA conference.
Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Ministry said its pro-Taiwan countries “were trying to severely hamper the WHA conference, while undermining global anti-pandemic cooperation.” Beijing emphasized that Taipei’s attendance at the conference should be allowed by them.
Taiwan has been an observer for WHA since 2009, when relations between Beijing and Taipei were warm. However, China lobbied to disqualify Taiwan’s WHA observer after Thai Anh Van, who opposed the “One China” policy, became the island’s leader in 2016.
Gloss (Follow Reuters)
