David Panuelo says Beijing is conducting ‘political warfare’ in opposition to its island nation as a part of a marketing campaign to take Taiwan.
The outgoing chief of the Federated States of micronesia (FSM), one of many world’s tiniest nations, has accused China of bribing officers and making “direct threats in opposition to my private security” as a part of a bid to take over self-ruled Taiwan.
In a 13-page letter despatched to Congress and state governors, President David Panuelo accused Beijing of finishing up a marketing campaign of “political warfare” that included overt actions and covert actions, together with “bribery, psychological warfare, and blackmail”.
Panuelo, who is because of go away workplace in Might, stated China was looking for to intrude within the FSM to make sure that the nation would align with Beijing, or stay impartial, within the occasion of a warfare over self-governing Taiwan, which the Chinese language Communist Occasion claims as its territory.
The FSM, which is house to fewer than 115,000 folks and situated about 2,900km (1,800 miles) northeast of Australia, is unbiased however receives monetary help and protection ensures from america below a so-called compact of free affiliation.
“The sensible impacts, nonetheless, of Chinese language management over our communications infrastructure, our ocean territory and the assets inside them, and our safety house, apart from impacts on our sovereignty, is that it will increase the probabilities of China moving into battle with Australia, Japan, america, and New Zealand, on the day when Beijing decides to invade Taiwan,” Panuelo stated within the letter, which was leaked to a number of media shops and seen by Al Jazeera.
Pandeilp stated he had been adopted by Chinese language males, certainly one of whom was an intelligence officer, whereas attending the Pacific Islands Discussion board in Fiji final yr.
“You possibly can think about my shock once I was adopted this previous July in Fiji in the course of the Pacific Islands Discussion board by two Chinese language males … and my continued shock once I discovered that I had a number of cupboard and workers who had met him earlier than, and within the FSM, Panuelo stated.
“To be clear: I’ve had direct threats in opposition to my private security from PRC officers performing in an official capability.”
Panuelo additionally accused Chinese language officers of bribing native officers to be “complicit” and “silent”.
“That is a heavy phrase, however it’s an correct description regardless. What else do you name it when an elected official is giving an envelope crammed with cash after a meal on the PRC embassy or after an inauguration? What else do you name it when a senior official is discreetly given a smartphone after visiting Beijing,” he stated.
Panuelo additionally indicated that he favored formally recognizing Taipei, which has solely a handful of diplomatic allies, and stated he requested Taiwanese International Minister Joseph Wu final month to inquire what “potential help” his nation may achieve within the occasion of a swap.
“I used to be clear with International Minister Wu; we venture we’d like an injection of roughly $50m to satisfy our future wants,” he stated. “We will and can obtain this, over a three-year interval, if and once we set up diplomatic relations with Taiwan.”
Panuelo stated Taiwan had agreed to supply funding and take over unfinished tasks began by Beijing.
Small Pacific island states like FSM, which consists of about 600 islands scattered throughout the Western Pacific, have in recent times turn out to be battlegrounds for the rising geopolitical rivalry between China and the US.
Al Jazeera has contacted Taiwan’s Ministry of International Affairs and the Chinese language embassy in Australia for remark.
