Solomon Islands MP Fends Off Criticism Over His Participation in IPAC Summit in Taiwan

A Solomon Islands member of parliament has expressed concern over his ruling coalition government’s decision to criticize him for traveling to Taiwan to attend a recent summit. Peter Kenilorea Jr., a Solomon Islands United Party member, was among 49 politicians from 24 countries who participated in a summit in Taiwan’s capital Taipei last month. The summit was organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group of more than 200 lawmakers from 40 countries who believe that coordinated responses are needed to confront the Chinese regime’s malign activities. Kenilorea is a co-chair of the alliance. The Solomon Islands government released a statement on July 31, saying that Kenilorea’s participation “is an attempt to harm the Solomon Islands and the People’s Republic of China relations.” The government said it “respects the People’s Republic of China’s sovereignty” and “Taiwan is an integral part of the People’s Republic of China.”...