Pacific Island Leaders Back Down on Taiwan Mention After Chinese Pressure

Pacific island leaders attending a summit in Tonga have removed a reference to Taiwan from their joint declaration after facing pressure from China. The initial statement, released on Friday, had rejected Chinese calls to sever ties with Taiwan, stating the regional alliance would maintain its decades-long diplomatic policy. However, after a Chinese envoy expressed strong disapproval, the Forum of the Pacific Islands reissued the declaration without the paragraph mentioning Taiwan. China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, has been actively seeking to exclude Taiwan from international forums. This incident highlights the growing tensions between China and Taiwan, with countries in the Pacific region caught in the middle. The move has raised concerns about the potential for further Chinese influence in the region.