Taiwan Condemns China’s ‘Wolf Warrior’ Conduct at Pacific Forum

Taiwan’s foreign minister has accused China of turning a Pacific Islands summit into a stage for confrontation, saying Beijing’s officials used both threatening language and covert surveillance at the event.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said China’s objections to Taiwan’s presence at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum were unwelcome. Beijing argued that Taipei was not qualified to attend and warned that its participation would have consequences. Palau, the summit host, is one of three Pacific island countries that maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

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This kind of Chinese ‘wolf warrior’ diplomacy actually easily undermines Pacific unity, and it is quite off-putting and disliked.

“This kind of Chinese ‘wolf warrior’ diplomacy actually easily undermines Pacific unity, and it is quite off-putting and disliked,” Lin told reporters in Taipei on Sept. 4. He said Taiwan and China had both been invited as guests. The term “wolf warrior” refers to the forceful public rhetoric increasingly associated with Chinese officials, drawing its name from a popular Chinese film franchise.

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This kind of threatening language and behaviour, claiming there will be ‘serious consequences,’ even going so far as to declare Palau an ‘unsafe travel destination,’ is extremely absurd and ironic for Pacific nations.

Lin said China had disregarded the host’s wishes and attempted to act as though it were running the summit. He pointed to Beijing’s warning that Palau was an “unsafe travel destination” after China threatened “serious consequences” over Taiwan’s participation. Lin called the language and conduct “extremely absurd and ironic for Pacific nations.” China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The minister also alleged that Chinese officials were present at nearly every venue or event in what he described as espionage. He said plainclothes and security personnel linked to the Chinese Communist Party appeared in areas he visited, and thanked Palau for strengthening security. Lin said he was confident Taiwan would continue attending the forum and gain support, particularly after China’s missile test into the Pacific in July. “I believe the more China reveals its aggressive and domineering nature in the Pacific, the more it will generate support for Taiwan,” he said.

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I believe the more China reveals its aggressive and domineering nature in the Pacific, the more it will generate support for Taiwan.