Solomon Islands Asks Taiwan for Reported NT$900M|扣關WHA失敗 總統批北京打壓

On May 22, President Tsai Ing-wen accused China of using political maneuvers to prevent Taiwan from participating in the World Health Assembly. Tsai said this is damaging not only to cross-strait relations, but the global disease prevention system as well. The Tsai administration is also dealing with the Solomon Islands' request for NT$900 million for the 2023 Pacific Games. Some are calling it checkbook diplomacy, but foreign minister Joseph Wu said strategic financial assistance for diplomatic allies is a win-win-win situation.


Sixteen nations directly or indirectly voiced support for Taiwan's participation on the second day of the World Health Assembly. The U.S. in particular said it was disappointed by Taiwan's absence. On the 21st, 15 ROC allies submitted a proposal to grant Taiwan observer status in the WHA. After China dismissed the proposal, President Tsai Ing-wen blasted Beijing.

The PRC government is not only using political maneuvers to exclude Taiwan from the global disease prevention network. This not only doesn't help cross-strait relations, but also in a way hurts the global disease prevention system.

In related news, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Rick Hou recently asked Tsai for a reported NT$900 million for the 2023 Pacific Games. On the 23rd, lawmakers criticized the Tsai administration for engaging in checkbook diplomacy, which Tsai had said she would never do. In response, Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu said this was not checkbook diplomacy but rather "strategic financing."

Therefore, I believe we should continue discussing this. If we can use strategic financing plans to help our diplomatic allies build their national infrastructure, it would be a win-win-win situation.

Wu also said if Taiwan helps the Solomon Islands build a stadium, the stadium could be a permanent fixture. Wu also said Taiwanese companies have already inspected the site and this is a "mutually beneficial, win-win-win situation" for everyone. Wu declined to confirm the NT$900 million figure, saying he had not yet seen relevant reports. At the same time, he said it is justifiable for Taiwan to help its allies and that this is absolutely not checkbook diplomacy.