The U.S. government is urging China to respect the decisions made by Pacific leaders regarding Taiwan's participation in regional summits. This comes after Chinese officials summoned ambassadors from Pacific nations to express dissatisfaction over Taiwan's involvement in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting. Last month, Pacific leaders reaffirmed that Taiwan could continue to engage with its three remaining diplomatic partners during the PIF, despite China's attempts to exclude it from the event.

Unlike last year, when China publicly criticized a PIF communique supporting Taiwan's presence, it has not made similar statements this time. However, an Australian government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, indicated that Beijing remains "very unhappy" with the outcome of the PIF meeting and that Pacific nations have faced some backlash from China since then.

Following the PIF meeting, Tang Zhiwen, Deputy Director of the Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs in China's foreign ministry, called in several ambassadors from Pacific nations based in Beijing. He reportedly warned that the PIF's stance could harm China-Pacific relations. A source familiar with the meeting noted that Tang expressed his concerns "very forcefully," but Pacific nations were not surprised by the reaction, given the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue for China.

Both Australia and New Zealand, full members of the PIF, supported the recent communique. However, China did not summon diplomats from either country for discussions, opting instead to lodge separate complaints with their governments. The Chinese Embassy in Canberra has not yet responded to requests for comment.

New Zealand and Australia have increasingly voiced their frustration over China's pressure on Pacific nations regarding Taiwan. They argue that such actions could undermine PIF unity and distract from pressing development issues in the region. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters criticized the influence of "outsiders" on the PIF's guest invitations, referring to China's attempts to dictate Taiwan's participation.

A spokesperson for New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade emphasized that the PIF communiques are internal matters for the forum's leaders. They reiterated New Zealand's commitment to upholding established procedures regarding Taiwan's participation, which were agreed upon in a 1992 consensus and reaffirmed in subsequent communiques.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also refrained from providing details about China's complaints but conveyed a clear message to Beijing. They encouraged China to engage with the PIF in a way that fosters regional unity and respects the forum's decisions regarding Taiwan.

Analyst Jessica Marinaccio, who has advised the government of Tuvalu, noted that China's strong response to the PIF communique was expected. She stated, "For China, the sensitivities and long history of the Taiwan issue may supersede considerations of maintaining a positive diplomatic reputation in the Pacific. For China, Taiwan is not a negotiable issue."

Marinaccio added that China's aggressive diplomacy could backfire, potentially strengthening Taiwan's position as long as it maintains its remaining diplomatic allies in the region. She warned that if Taiwan were completely excluded from the PIF while still having allies, it could threaten the unity of the forum, similar to the Micronesian countries' withdrawal in 2021.

As Pacific nations navigate their relationships with both China and Taiwan, they face a critical decision: prioritize PIF unity or cater to their bilateral relations with China. This year, the preference appears to lean towards maintaining PIF cohesion.