- Micronesia makes serious accusations against Beijing
- Li Qiang seeks consensus with US
- Pithy words at the end of the NPC
- Xi wants to meet Putin first, then Zelenskiy
- German network operators seek to delay Huawei ban
- London’s security paper tightened up
- SARS whistleblower dies in house arrest
- Felix Lee: How my father met the minister
Bribery, political interference and direct threats – finally someone says it how it is, right? The outgoing President of the Pacific island group Micronesia names some pillars of Chinese brute diplomacy. In fact, there are complaints in many parts of the world – including Germany – about how the People’s Republic uses shady methods to represent its interests in the world. But this usually happens behind closed doors. And in the end, they usually turn a blind eye because it is China.
The fact that the President of the small state is now even talking about severing ties with Beijing and is instead looking to Taiwan is political dynamite, as Michael Radunski analyzes. For decades, the trend has been exactly the opposite. But in the face of growing international skepticism towards China, such a decision could generate a lot of attention in the world and give new impetus to Taiwan’s diplomatic activities.
Micronesia’s demand of 50 million US dollars from Taiwan in return also sounds dishonest at first. But upon closer examination, the withdrawal of dozens of states from Taiwan and their turning towards the People’s Republic had exactly the same reason: financial interests.
In the medium term, however, China will hardly have to worry about a wave of diplomatic crises driving the country into isolation. Especially if the government behaves as charmingly as the new Premier Li Qiang did during his inaugural speech to the Americans. Joern Petring listened to Li and noticed that China’s new head of government struck a level-headed tone vis-à-vis Washington. The USA is not Micronesia, after all.
Marcel Grzanna
Feature
The Micronesia uprising
It is a letter from the pen of David Panuelo that carries a politically highly explosive message. On 13 pages, the outgoing president of Micronesia gets even with China – and wants to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan instead. In doing so, he has dared to do two things at once:
- With its plan, Micronesia is defying the global trend, where more and more states are turning away from Taiwan and toward China instead. Only 14 countries still maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan – and for that, the Vatican has to be counted.
- The president of Micronesia chooses unusually frank words towards China, accusing Beijing of political warfare, bribery and direct threats.
In the letter to the governors of the individual states of Micronesia as well as to other political leaders, Panuelo accuses China of preparing an invasion of Taiwan. Beijing is trying to secure Micronesia’s loyalty or neutrality, he writes. China expects Micronesia to side with it or at least abstain in the event of war against the US. Panuelo explains in detail how China plans to achieve this: With bribery, political interference and direct threats.
Relations with Taiwan for 50 million US dollars
Because of these practices, Panuelo advocates ending diplomatic relations with China. Instead, the Federated States of Micronesia should rather establish relations with Taiwan. Panuelo does not mince his words on this point either – and demands 50 million US dollars from Taiwan in return.
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