Editing Foreign relations of Taiwan (section)

====History====
In September 2006, the first regional summit of Taiwan's Pacific Island allies took place, hosted by Palau in [[Koror City]]. The meeting brought together President [[Chen Shui-bian|Chen]] and delegates from the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau, [[Solomon Islands]] and Kiribati.<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/06/26/2003366902 "Marshall Islands president set to visit"], Ko Shu-ling, ''Taipei Times'', 26 June 2007</ref> It was to become a regular event, known as the Taiwan–Pacific Allies Summit.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/supplement/2007/10/10/126113/Taiwan-Pacific-Allies.htm "Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit to highlight regional issues"], ''China Post'', 10 October 2007</ref><ref>[http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/fp.asp?xItem=23510&ctNode=1349 "What Really Counts"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226025905/http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/fp.asp?xItem=23510&ctNode=1349 |date=26 February 2012 }}, Taiwan Review (government website), 30 November 2006</ref> A second regional meeting was hosted by the Marshall Islands in October, and President Chen attended.<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/10/03/2003381476 "Chen not planning any transit stops on way to Marshalls"], Ko Shu-ling, ''Taipei Times'', 3 October 2007</ref> This resulted in the [[Majuro Declaration]], in which Taiwan's six Pacific allies re-stated their recognition of the ROC's sovereignty, and promised to support the ROC's attempts to join the United Nations.<ref>[http://english.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=45435 "Taiwan signs Majuro Declaration with South Pacific allies"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717021222/http://english.rti.org.tw/Content/GetSingleNews.aspx?ContentID=45435 |date=17 July 2011 }}, Radio Taiwan International, 12 October 2007</ref>

In June 2007, the ROC donated an aid package of €700,000, distributed among eight Pacific regional organisations.<ref>[http://www.matangitonga.to/article/taiwaan_220607_1055.shtml "Taiwan injects over US$1m into regional development"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927173812/http://www.matangitonga.to/article/taiwaan_220607_1055.shtml |date=27 September 2011 }}, Matangi Tonga, 27 June 2007</ref>

In January 2008, following the victory of the Kuomintang in the ROC's elections, Kuomintang MP Yang Li-huan stated that under the new government Taiwan's interest in the Pacific could decrease.<ref name="RNZI_37668">{{cite news |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=37668 |title=Shift expected in Taiwan's Pacific policy |date=25 January 2008 |work=[[Radio New Zealand International]] |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> Three days later, however, it was confirmed that ROC Vice-president [[Annette Lu]] would lead a diplomatic visit to the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Solomon Islands.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/01/28/140824/Vice-president.htm "Vice president to visit three allies in South Pacific: official"], ''China Post'', 28 January 2008</ref>

In March 2008, President-elect Ma was reported as saying that his government would put an end to Taiwanese "cheque-book diplomacy" in the Pacific (or more specifically, similar to the condition of [[cestui que use]] diplomacy).<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/200803/s2199657.htm?tab=latest "Taiwan president-elect vows to end Pacific 'cheque-book diplomacy'"], ABC Radio Australia, 26 March 2008</ref> In May of that same year, Ma called for what he referred to as a "cease-fire" in the competition between the ROC and the PRC for diplomatic allies. This followed a scandal due to allegations that Taiwan's Foreign Minister [[James C. F. Huang|James Huang]] had attempted to buy Papua New Guinea's diplomatic allegiance.<ref name="afp.google.com">[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5htsHpviQR3eUftUSDnBaZlxVeYzg "Taiwan's next leader urges truce in cash diplomacy battle"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510082054/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5htsHpviQR3eUftUSDnBaZlxVeYzg |date=10 May 2008 }}, AFP, 6 May 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/06/asia/taiwan.php "Taiwan foreign minister resigns over diplomatic blunder"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510121305/http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/06/asia/taiwan.php |date=10 May 2008 }}, Jonathan Adams,''International Herald Tribune'', 6 May 2008</ref> Papua New Guinea's foreign minister [[Sam Abal]] subsequently confirmed that his country had no intention of recognising the ROC.<ref name="ReferenceA">[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200805/s2238357.htm?tab=latest "PNG dismisses Taiwan's diplomatic moves"], ABC Radio Australia, 7 May 2008</ref>

In October, Taiwan cancelled a scheduled summit with its Pacific Island allies. Although the authorities cited "preparation problems", [[Radio Australia]] commented that "the decision appears to be an attempt by the new administration of President Ma Ying-jeou to keep the island's diplomatic activities low-profile and avoid offending China".<ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200810/s2385771.htm?tab=latest "Taiwan cancels Pacific islands summit"], ABC Radio Australia, 8 October 2008</ref> In June 2009, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that President Ma would "attend a [...] leadership summit between Taiwan and its South Pacific allies" in autumn. The summit, hosted by Solomon Islands, would be attended by the "heads of state of Taiwan's six allies in the region" and would focus on "countering the [[Late-2000s recession|current economic contraction]], [[climate change]] and how to strengthen the fisheries industry". Upon announcing the summit, the Ministry added that Ma had "developed a fondness for the Pacific region during his previous visit to Solomon Islands when he saw a handful of children at a market selling betel nuts and watermelons while wearing shirts donated by the people of Taiwan".<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/06/10/2003445794 "Ma plans to visit South Pacific allies"], ''Taipei Times'', 10 June 2009</ref>

In July 2009, the ROC donated over €40,000 in a scholarship scheme benefiting students from Pacific countries, including those, such as Fiji or Papua New Guinea, that do not grant it diplomatic recognition. It donated €288,000 for regional development assistance programmes, to be used notably on access to water, sanitation and hygiene, renewable energy, solar photovoltaic assessments, fisheries management, education and youth training.<ref>[http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10118&change=71&changeown=78&Itemid=26 "Taiwan gives to the region"], ''Solomon Star'', 14 July 2009</ref>

Taiwan has asked to be recognised as an official dialogue partner of the [[Pacific Islands Forum]]. That status is currently awarded to the PRC.<ref name="RNZI_41647">{{cite news |url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=41647 |title=Taiwan calls on Pacific Forum to allow it to be a proper Dialogue Partner |date=25 August 2008 |work=[[Radio New Zealand International]] |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref>