China tells Samoa to “refrain” from Taiwan

China has called on Samoa to reaffirm its support for the “One China policy,” and to refrain from any engagement with Taiwan.

The call was made in Beijing, China, last week by China’s Vice Minister for International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), Guo Yezhou.

Guo met with a Parliament delegation from Samoa that was on a fact-finding mission in the People’s Republic of China

The delegation was led by Senior Member of Parliament, Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow.

“China is the only country which has not been reunited yet,” Guo is quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Government’s Press Secretary.

“That is why the Taiwan issue and the One China policy are very important to China’s territorial integrity and sentiment to China’s 1.3 billion people so I believe that our Samoan friends can understand and support China’s position.”

He assured Samoa that China is “resolute in reuniting our country and one day Taiwan will come back to the motherland.”

It was then he urged the Parliamentarians from Samoa to relay a request to the leaders to refrain from official engagement with Taiwan and also from signing any official agreement with Taiwan.

“It is a highly sensitive issue to China and her 1.3 billion people.”

Back in Samoa, the call was well received by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, who said Samoa’s engagement with China since 1975 remains underpinned by the One China policy. 

“And we will continue to support the One China Policy,” he said.

Tuilaepa noted that after more than 40 years of beneficial diplomatic ties with the People’s Republic, the Government and the people of Samoa remain firm on their resolve to support the One China policy.

“Samoa has benefitted immensely through development co-operation programmes, particularly in improving its infrastructure, thanks to China’s generosity,” Tuilaepa said.

SOURCE: SAMOA OBSERVER/PACNEWS