China lobbying Pacific nations over Taiwan issue

Beijing may have pressed the Pacific Islands Forum to recognise the Chinese Communist Party as the rightful government of Taiwan.

The Pacific is Taiwan's last bastion of diplomatic support, with six nations in the region - Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu and Palau - recognising Taipei rather than Beijing.

Taiwan donates large amounts of aid to these countries, and works hard to cultivate relationships with their political leaders.

But China is intent on prising off Taiwan's remaining allies around the globe.

The ABC reports Pacific officials lobbied by China asked not to be identified because they did not want to damage diplomatic ties with Beijing.

But both said China had been targeting other Pacific nations on the issue, and had probably pressed its case with the Secretariat of the Pacific Islands Forum.