Statement to Parliament
by
Grand Chief Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Somare GCL GCMG CH CF KStJ
Prime Minister
On the Taiwan Diplomatic Recognition Issue
Mr Speaker
I seek leave of Parliament to make an important statement on the recent media reports on the controversy surrounding the reported US$30 million offer from the Taiwanese authorities to two of their citizens supposedly for Papua New Guinea in exchange for diplomatic recognition.
At the outset, let me make it very clear that Papua New Guinea only has formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.
I was the one that signed the diplomatic Communiqué in October 1976 formalizing this relationship and successive Papua New Guinea Governments have adhered to this policy posture ever since.
This was a conscious and deliberate foreign policy decision.
The Governments that I have led, including the current one, strictly abides by this policy and any suggestions to the contrary are but figments of other peoples’ imaginations.
Mr Speaker
It is unfortunate that the Opposition should stop so low as to exploit this issue, involving the loss of a huge sum of money from a foreign entity, to try and gain political mileage here in Papua New Guinea.
Very senior politicians in Taiwan have resigned over this issue and, unless we have the facts, we should be very careful as to what we say and do on this matter.
This is a serious matter that is under investigation.
Since the matter was reported in the media, my Office has requested for our Consul General in Taiwan to furnish whatever information he has on the issue and I am awaiting this advice.
This is an internal matter for Taiwan authorities to sort out. Media reports from Taipei state that the Foreign Ministry officials acknowledge this.
Therefore, no one, including the Opposition, should take advantage of an error in judgment on their part to incite public disorder in the country or try to discredit our Government.
Mr Speaker
The Opposition has publicly called on me “to come clean” on this issue. I do not have to come clean on something I was never a party to.
The imputation being that somehow I am involved in this scandal.
Let me assure this House that I have no knowledge of this ill-conceived scheme where an alleged amount of US$30 million was given to two Taiwanese individuals supposedly to try and obtain diplomatic recognition from Papua New Guinea.
What I know is what is reported in the media.
For the Opposition to insinuate and make outrages innuendoes of any involvement or wrong doing on my part is downright mischievous and misleading.
The facts, as we know it from media reports, are as follows and no one should try and mislead the public on the basis of irresponsible speculation.
Taiwan authorities, like other Governments use lobbyists to pursue their foreign policy interests. In this instance, and as reported in the media, they chose two of their citizens to try and broker an agreement with Papua New Guinea on possible diplomatic recognition.
They were reportedly given US$30 million for this assignment.
When it was considered by the Taiwan authorities that the objective of the mission was not achieved, they attempted to recover the money from the two (2) individuals but with no success.
It is also reported that this money, or part of it, was deposited in a Bank in Singapore and this account has been frozen.
Mr Speaker
Let me emphasize once more that these are the facts as we know it from media reports and we should allow for the Taiwan investigations to proceed without us having to speculate on its outcome.
Let me now turn to the media reports suggesting that I had met Mr James Huang in Singapore on the issue of the US$30 million in exchange for possible formal diplomatic relations.
For the record, I think I met Mr James Huang in a casual encounter late last year in Singapore on my way back from a United Nations engagement in the United States.
It so happened that Mr Huang was staying in the same hotel as my delegation and when he requested for a courtesy call on me – I saw no reason to decline his request.
The encounter was brief and the discussions were very broad covering possible areas of cooperation to further strengthen the trade and economic relations between Papua New Guinea and Taiwan under the APEC umbrella.
At no time was this so-called US$30 million in exchange for possible formal diplomatic relations discussed or offered.
Mr Speaker
All my political life, since I brought this country to independence with the help of some genuine nationalistic leaders, I have worked hard to position Papua New Guinea to be a strong and prosperous country.
The Eight Point Plan reflected that vision I had for this country.
In all my undertakings around the world and in the carriage of my duties back here, I have met many political and business leaders and promoted Papua New Guinea as a country of vast opportunities.
I require no incentive to do this.
I have never – NEVER - sought to cut a personal deal at the expense of my country.
That is simply not my style.
It therefore saddens me, and to a certain extent angers me, to note the scurrilous suggestions that I am somehow involved in this ill-conceived Taiwanese scheme.
This trial by the media instigated by the Opposition also brings their own repute to question.
I am told that they obtained their information from the Taiwanese media personnel who entered Papua New Guinea on visas other than journalist visas. The Opposition may be condoning breach of our visa regulations.
Mr Speaker
Let me conclude by making it very clear that Papua New Guinea has formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China and my Government, like previous Papua New Guinea Governments will abide by the “One China Policy”.
I will not renege on the commitment I made when I signed the Diplomatic Communiqué in 1976.
At the same time, we will seek to promote trade, investment and economic relations with Taiwan, within the bounds permitted by international practice, for the benefit of our people.
The issue of the alleged US$30 million in exchange for possible diplomatic recognition from Papua New Guinea is a matter between the Taiwanese authorities and their two citizens.
Thank you.
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