The US magazine "The Diplomat" revealed that the Federated States of Micronesia, an island country in the South Pacific, is plotting to sever diplomatic relations with Chinese mainland and establish so-called "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities instead.
This news has aroused the attention of the international community, and the "golden dollar diplomacy" of the Taiwan authorities in diplomacy and the role of the United States in the South Pacific region have become hot topics.
According to the report, the diplomatic changes in Micronesia were initiated by the country's outgoing **Panuelo, who in a 13-page letter proposed to the Taiwan authorities the harsh conditions for the "establishment of diplomatic relations".
Panuelo demanded that the secret state receive 50 million US dollars (about 15.).NT$400 million), which will be disbursed within three years, and the FS will have to decide how to use the funds for themselves.
In addition, the secret state also hopes that the Taiwan authorities will take over Chinese mainland's construction projects in the country, hire secret workers, and provide vocational training.
It is said that Panuelo contacted Wu Zhaoxie, responsible person of Taiwan's "foreign affairs department," to find out the attitude of the Taiwan authorities.
At that time, Panuelo asked Wu Zhaoxie a few questions: If the secret state and the Taiwan authorities "establish relations," how much assistance will they receive?If the secret state does not "establish diplomatic relations" and only sets up a representative office in Taipei, what is the benefit?
After the incident reached the island, Wu Zhaoxie admitted that "the two sides had exchanges," and Kuomintang "legislator" Yang Qiongying criticized this as "Kaizi's behavior," but Chen Jianren, the head of the "administrative agency" promoted by Tsai Ing-wen, defended Wu Zhaoxie.
Chen Chien-jen said: If we can increase the number of "countries with diplomatic relations" and have "friendly countries" in the international community to speak for Taiwan, then it will not be a "Kaizi behavior."
What worries the island most is whether the Taiwan authorities will repeat the mistakes of the past and "squander money" in the international community in exchange for unreliable support.
After 2000, the Taiwan authorities were keen on this kind of money game, but the mainland side quickly counterattacked, and the number of so-called "countries with diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities was quickly reduced from 28 to 14.
Seeing that the situation was not good, the Taiwan authorities had no choice but to bow their heads and take the initiative to give up this kind of competition.
Of course, the mainland side still has more cards to play, if the Taiwan authorities dare to make improper moves, the mainland can retaliate again at any time, as evidenced by the restoration of diplomatic relations between Nicaragua and Chinese mainland in 2021 and the handing over of the Taiwan authorities' property in the local premises to the mainland.
From Nicaragua's intention to sever relations with the Taiwan authorities to the announcement of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal, the authorities have been kept in the dark, and this incident has had a huge psychological impact on them.
The Taiwan authorities later recalled Wu Jinmu, the foreign minister stationed in Nicaragua, only to find out that he had already taken Nicaraguan nationality and was unwilling to return to the island for questioning.
The Taiwan authorities have lost face and it took a long time to calm down the impact of this incident on the island.
It has only been more than a year since this incident, and the Taiwan authorities have forgotten their lesson and want to make new moves, and they still have to hold on to it even though they do not have the strength, mainly because the forces seeking "independence" have fallen into internal and external predicaments and must put on a political show to appease the people.
Since the second half of 2022, the forces seeking "independence" on the island have suffered a series of blows, starting with the PLA's drills in six major areas of the Taiwan Strait in August, demonstrating a strong blockade capability. Since then, the morale of the "independence" forces has fallen to the bottom.
Then, the United States tried to challenge the "one China" principle and cheer up the "independence" group, but the provocation failed, and Biden had to personally assure the Chinese side during the G20 summit that the "independence" forces had been hit hard.
Next, in the "nine-in-one" election, ** was defeated, and in a series of polls that followed, the Kuomintang was overwhelming.
In this predicament, the differences within the "independence" group are intensifying, and the open and secret struggle between Lai Qingde and Tsai Ing-wen has not stopped, and many opinions have been put forward from all sides, but to no avail, so Tsai Ing-wen tried to find support from the outside to rebuild internal confidence.
There are more and more rumors of Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States, and the news of the establishment of "diplomatic relations" between the Taiwan authorities and Micronesia also came out at this time.
Obviously, Tsai Ing-wen wants to create the illusion that there is a lot of international support, but this is playing with fire and may **.
At China's regular press conference, spokesperson Mao Ning responded to the question of "secret plot to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan" and said that the island of Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the "one-China" principle is the premise and foundation for China to establish diplomatic relations with other countries.
It can be seen that the mainland side has been paying close attention to the situation and will not leave a chance for the Taiwan authorities, and at the same time, the mainland side will not forget that the United States is playing an important role behind these incidents.
Since the first half of 2022, as relations between China and South Pacific island countries have deepened, the United States has fallen into a state of hysteria, and the US media has gone all out to smear China's normal commercial and diplomatic activities in the South Pacific region.
Among the South Pacific island countries, the United States' influence and control over the Federated States of Micronesia is very deep, constantly forcing Micronesia** to keep its distance from China.