THE Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Saturday announced a 5-day visit by Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Minister Jeremiah Manele beginning September 8 amid speculation of a possible switch in political allegiance by Honiara to Beijing.
“MOFA warmly welcomes Jeremiah Manele, foreign minister of the Solomon Islands, our Pacific ally, who is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan for a visit scheduled for Sept. 8 to 12, together with his delegation,” MOFA said in a press statement.
Manele will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and attend a banquet hosted by Wu, according to the press statement.
Manele will also visit the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and tour private companies and research institutions engaged in clean energy, agricultural machinery and fine agriculture.
The purpose is for the delegation to gain a more comprehensive appreciation of Taiwan’s agricultural technology and related developments for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in new fields, MOFA said.
While this will be Manele’s first visit to Taiwan as the Solomon Islands’ top diplomat since he assumed the post in May, he has visited Taiwan several times in the past in other official capacities, MOFA said.
Manele’s visit is “significant to the Taiwan-Solomon Islands friendship” and comes in the wake of Solomon Islands Parliament Speaker Patteson Oti attending the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians’ Union (APPU) annual gathering in Taipei in early August and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s meeting with Wu in Tuvalu on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum mid-August and witnessing the signing of a visa waiver agreement, MOFA added.
“Taiwan and the Solomon Islands have worked closely together since establishing diplomatic relations in 1983,” MOFA said, citing Honaira’s support for Taiwan in the international arena such as the United Nations General Assembly, World Health Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“Both countries will continue to deepen friendly cooperative relations upholding the principle of mutual assistance for the benefit of both sides,” MOFA said.
Manele’s visit comes at a time when Taipei-Honaira relations are being tested due to Beijing efforts to further isolate Taiwan in the international community.
The Solomon Islands’ new government declared a review of its relations with Taiwan and China following a general election in April and a task force formed for the purpose has toured Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, all Pacific nations allied to Beijing, and is supposed to submit its assessment on the issue “within this week,” according to reports from foreign media.
A recent Reuters report also quoted Solomons lawmaker Peter Shanel Agovaka as saying that Honaira intends to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan and align itself with Beijing.
Over the past few days, however, MOFA has been reassuring the nation over bilateral relations with Honiara, citing cooperation projects and interactions between high-level officials.
On the other hand, the Solomon Islands embassy in Taiwan said in a statement on Thursday that the Solomon Islands has not set a date to make a decision on the possible diplomatic switch pending cabinet review and parliamentary discussions.
“Unless and until the Solomon Islands Government announces its decision … the government and people of the Solomon Islands continue to cherish relations with Republic of China Taiwan,” the embassy said.
Source: CNA
