[１０日 ロイター] – Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), an island nation in the Pacific, discussed with Taiwan in February about establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan instead of China and receiving $50 million in aid out of dissatisfaction with China. Outgoing President Panuelo said in his letter.
Tensions between the United States and China over security influence in the Pacific islands are mounting, and President Panuelo has been at the forefront of criticism of China for seeking security and trade agreements with 10 Pacific island nations. rice field.
In a letter to state governors seen by Reuters, the president said he met with Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu in February to discuss a diplomatic shift from China to Taiwan. “We estimate that we will need an injection of approximately $50 million to meet our future needs. Establishing diplomatic ties with Taiwan will allow us to obtain this funding in three years, and we intend to do so,” it said. bottom.
“The Taiwanese side has guaranteed that it will take over all the projects that China is currently working on,” he wrote.
The president said that Taiwan’s support “will significantly improve our security by distanced us from China, which undermines our sovereignty, denies our values, and uses our elected officials for their own purposes.” strengthened,” he added. It is said that Taiwan offered a provisional support package of $15 million a year.
A spokesman for the Federated States of Micronesia’s president’s office declined to comment.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it could not comment on contacts with other countries, but said that Taiwan has always adhered to the spirit of “practical diplomacy, mutual benefit, and ‘Taiwan can help'” compared to China’s “verbal promises.” . In the future, he expressed his intention to support the development of Micronesia using the Taiwan model.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning said, “The slander and accusations against China are utterly inconsistent with the facts,” referring to reports about Mr. Panuelo’s letter. He said that no matter who comes to power, China will adhere to the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit based on the “One China” principle.
