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“I WILL NOT RENEGE ON COMMUNIQUE I SIGNED WITH CHINA IN 1976,” SAYS PM
[For release – 12 May 2008]
Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare said today he was Prime Minister in October 1976 when he signed the Communiqué that formalised bilateral relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
“As someone that consciously took a policy decision on this diplomatic recognition, it would be stupid of me to undertake an action contrary to this fundamental policy issue,” Sir Michael said.
Sir Michael said the Communiqué also recognised Taiwan as an integral part of the PRC.
“For the Opposition to insinuate that I will suddenly renege on our ‘One-China Policy’ for formal diplomatic recognition of Taiwan underscores the alternate government’s ignorance and contempt of PNG’s long-established bilateral ties with the PRC,” he said.
He said PNG’s dealings with Taiwan have been common knowledge and were purely on trade and economic matters. Taiwan has a Trade Mission in PNG.
Sir Michael said he has often met Taiwanese and Chinese delegations at various international meetings like the Pacific Island Forum and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. The APEC meetings list participants as ‘economies’ and not by their country names.
“Having said that I can also state that I briefly met the Taiwanese Foreign Minister in Singapore in 2007. It was a casual encounter.
“It was a coincidence as we were staying in the same hotel and when they requested to pay a courtesy call on me, I agreed to meet them. We didn’t discuss anything specific – certainly not the diplomatic innuendoes the Opposition wants us to believe,” Sir Michael said.
On the US $30m issue of 2006, Sir Michael said this is a matter between the Taiwanese government and two of its citizens.
“All countries use lobbyists at international meetings to pursue their foreign policy initiatives.
“Taiwan decided to use their own citizens as middlemen to allegedly negotiate the deal. PNG didn’t receive anything so they should really make their own investigations; the truth will prevail,” he said.
M T SOMARE
Prime Minister
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