Taiwan is working with Australia to counter Chinese disinformation in the region, its envoy says, after senators issued a strong rebuke to Beijing’s attempts to justify its claim to the self-governed island.
Taipei’s representative in Australia, Douglas Hsu, said some Pacific Island nations that had diplomatic relations with China over Taiwan would refuse aid and humanitarian projects to not draw anger from Beijing.
There was some “hesitation” in Papua New Guinea to engage directly with the Taiwanese office, the envoy said.
“People perhaps connect that it’s a geopolitical concept when it’s a genuine humanitarian program,” Mr Hsu told a parliamentary inquiry on Thursday.
“That is one main challenge that we have and I would say that we have to do more on the public messaging as well.”
There was diplomatic competition in the region as Taiwan and China tussled for recognition, he said.
The threat of climate change and stagnated development meant the Pacific faced “the sharpest challenges of any region in the world”.
“Some countries have seen these vulnerabilities as an opportunity to further their ambition using diplomatic and economic coercion to extend their power,” Mr Hsu said in a thinly veiled reference to China.
A Lowy Institute report confirmed geopolitics in the Pacific has ramped up with 18 embassies opening since 2017 – including half a dozen from Australia – and almost 180 bilateral and multilateral engagements since 2021.
The number of donors soared from 31 in 2008 to 82 in 2021.
The report determined China was pushing for a greater role in the key sectors of military, policing and media while traditional partners such as Australia and the US were worried about waning influence.
“China’s diplomatic reach is expanding and targeting strategically important countries and sectors, relentlessly cultivating regional political elites with offers of assistance,” it said.
Australian senators also issued a rebuke to China’s position on Taiwan, saying a United Nations resolution Beijing has used to justify its claims over the island was being wilfully misinterpreted.
The Senate sought to tackle misinformation about Australia’s position on China’s claim over Taiwan.
While Australia has a one-China policy, which means it recognises the People’s Republic of China in Beijing as the sole legal government, it does not accept its position that Taiwan is a province of China.
Australia only “acknowledged” China’s claim.
A motion was passed unanimously on Wednesday and was applauded by Taiwan’s representative in Australia.
“China’s efforts to subvert the language of the resolution to make false claims of sovereignty over Taiwan are unacceptable,” the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office said in a statement thanking the Senate.
Australia maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and is working to boost economic co-operation.
China’s embassy in Canberra has been contacted for comment.
Beijing maintains Taiwan is an “inalienable” part of China and the use of military force has not been ruled out to bring the island back under the mainland’s control.
The joint motion was moved by Labor senator Deb O’Neill and Liberal senator David Fawcett in a rare show of unity in the upper house.
Both attended an international parliamentary conference on China in Taiwan in July.
It was important Australia’s position on Taiwan was not misinterpreted, Senator O’Neill said.
“It’s crucial … we are strident in our condemnation of deceit and resolute in our promotion of truth and historical fact,” she said.
Liberal senator Clare Chandler slammed China’s “concerted attempt” to rewrite history about Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Three cross-party parliamentary delegations have visited Taiwan since 2022.
