Taiwanese official in hospital after ‘violent attack by Chinese diplomats’ in Fiji

Taiwan has accused Chinese officials of attacking its diplomats during a recent function in Fiji, which resulted in a Taiwanese official requiring hospital treatment.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said the incident took place during an event to mark Taiwan’s national day at the Grand Pacific Hotel on Thursday 8 October.  

The ministry said two Chinese diplomats tried to force their way in to collect information, including taking pictures, on who was attending. When the Taiwanese diplomats tried to stop them a fight broke out, after which a Taiwanese diplomat was sent to hospital with a head injury.

According to Reuters, Taiwan’s deputy foreign minister Henry Tseng informed the Taiwan parliament that the government condemns the “irrational acts by the Chinese diplomats" and are looking at whether the incident represents common behaviour or was an isolated incident. 

Taiwan does not have formal diplomatic relations with Fiji, but at least two ministers from Fiji’s government were present at the event, along with diplomats from other countries and workers from international and local NGOs, the Guardian reported.

China disputed the Taiwanese government’s account. The embassy of the People's Republic of China in Fiji said such “allegations concerning Chinese Embassy staff are totally inconsistent with facts.”

It said that the “so-called national day” event in public “clearly violates the one-China principle and the relevant rules and regulations of the Fijian government, with an attempt to create ‘two Chinas’ or ‘one China, one Taiwan’ internationally".  

“On that very evening, the staff of the Taipei Trade Office in Fiji acted provocatively against the Chinese embassy staff who were carrying out their official duties in the public area outside the function venue, causing injuries and damage to one Chinese diplomat,” said the Chinese embassy’s statement.  

It said they have expressed their serious concerns to the Fijian authorities about the incident, requesting the police carry out an investigation.

The statement also referred to Taiwan as "an inalienable part of China's territory.”  

The issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty has received increased international attention this year after the island was kept out of WHO discussions of the global coronavirus response at China’s request. 

China has pressed its claim on Taiwan as its own territory in other ways too, with Taiwan saying recently that it has spent $900m in 2020 alone on scrambling its air force to respond to Chinese incursions.