Taiwan denies 'checkbook diplomacy' claim by Solomon Islands media

Taipei, Sept. 2 (CNA) Taiwan on Wednesday rejected a Solomon Islands media report accusing Taipei of engaging in "checkbook diplomacy" in the South Pacific, saying that the report "deviated from the truth" and was "driven by malicious intent."

The report published Tuesday by the Solomon Star, a newspaper in Taiwan's former diplomatic ally, alleged that "Taiwan's foreign ministry reportedly allocated nearly $281,000 in direct cash gifts for Palauan political figures" to secure support at the Pacific Islands Forum.

That included $30,000 for the former president, $5,000 each for senior executive and legislative leaders, and $2,000 for individual lawmakers, the Solomon Star said.

"Taiwan [also] increased its annual aid to Palau from $18 million last year to $25 million this year," the media outlet wrote, citing only "reports" without any further attribution. It did not specify the currency.

MOFA said Taiwan's cooperation projects with Palau and its other diplomatic allies are tailored to local needs and implemented in accordance with the respective administrative procedures of both governments.

"Taiwan's approach to the implementation of cooperation projects follows the same principles followed by other like-minded countries in carrying out similar projects across the Pacific region," the ministry said.

MOFA alleged Wednesday that some Solomon Islands media outlets are on the payroll of China, citing foreign media reports, and said the latest report targeting Taiwan was an example, without evidence or attribution.

According to a 2023 report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), the Solomon Star received nearly US$140,000 in funding from the Chinese government and, in return, pledged to "promote the truth about China's generosity and its true intentions to help develop" the Pacific island nation.

The OCCRP is a United States-based nonprofit investigative journalism organization.

The Solomon Star story showed unusual concern for Taiwan's taxpayer, saying that "such spending deserves far greater public scrutiny. These are not private funds belonging to Taiwan's political leaders."

"More importantly, this approach risks turning diplomacy into a form of transactional politics," it said.

It did not mention, however, that when China established relations with the Solomon Islands in September 2019, Beijing promised US$500 million in financial aid, according to Australian news outlet ABC News, citing Chinese and Taiwanese media.

Palau is one of Taiwan's three remaining diplomatic allies in the Pacific. The other two are the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu.