China has lodged a formal protest with Fiji after a senior Fijian diplomat visited Taiwan this week — a move Beijing said violated the one-China principle.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing on Thursday that China expressed “strong dissatisfaction” and had made “solemn representations” to Fiji over the visit.
“China always resolutely opposes official interaction in any form between countries that have diplomatic relations with China and China’s Taiwan region,” Mao said.
“The visit to Taiwan by certain Fijian officials seriously violates Fiji’s political commitment to the one-China principle. The despicable actions of the Taiwan regime will get nowhere.”
Taiwan’s presidential office said Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Filipo Tarakinikini, met Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim as part of a delegation of UN ambassadors, including those from Taiwan’s allies, the Marshall Islands and Paraguay.
Hsiao thanked the diplomats for their “longstanding support and assistance,” noting their efforts had helped Taiwan “play a meaningful role in the international system.”
Tarakinikini also met Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, according to Taiwan’s foreign ministry.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and strongly objects to any official exchanges with Taipei. Taiwan, however, maintains it has the right to engage internationally and rejects Beijing’s claims.
Fiji maintains formal ties with China but hosts a de facto Taiwanese mission in Suva.
