China backed Papua New Guinea over its decision to tell Taiwan to close a representative office in the Pacific island nation ¡ª a move that would further diminish the democracy¡¯s voice globally.
¡°China highly commends the decision, and it demonstrates once again that upholding the one-China principle is where international public opinion trends and the arc of history bends,¡± Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.
The decision regarding the Taipei Economic Office in Port Moresby showed support for Beijing¡¯s one-China policy, Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko said in a statement.
Taiwan¡¯s Foreign Ministry said the decision was made without consulting Taipei and it lodged a formal protest with Papua New Guinea. It added in the statement that the office continued normal operations.
China has been ramping efforts to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, largely because it views President Lai Ching-te as a separatist. Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory, and has pledged to take control of its eventually, by force if needed.
The government in Taipei rejects that position, saying Taiwan is de facto independent and deserving of broader recognition globally.
Earlier this year, Lai was forced to delay a trip to Eswatini, Taipei¡¯s last diplomatic ally in Africa, because three nations closed their airspace to his flight. Taiwan said the move came at Beijing¡¯s behest, and Lai later called on nations to resist China¡¯s ¡°transnational repression.¡±
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