If I Were Allan Bird's Foreign Policy Adviser: Revisiting the Somare Model for PNG's Taiwan Policy

By Bernard Yegiora

Governor Allan Bird's recent comments on PNG's decision to close the Chinese Taipei Economic Office have reignited an important debate about the direction of our foreign policy.

He argued that when a country becomes financially dependent on another, it risks compromising its trade relationships in favour of that creditor. Whether one agrees with his assessment or not, his comments raise a more fundamental foreign policy question:

How should PNG engage Taiwan while remaining committed to the One China Policy?

If I were Governor Allan Bird's foreign policy adviser, my advice would not be to abandon the One China Policy. Nor would it be to force PNG into choosing between Beijing and Taipei.

Instead, I would advise him to revisit the foreign policy legacy of PNG's founding Prime Minister, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.

History Already Provides the Answer

The Taiwan question is not new.

It has been one of the most sensitive issues in China–PNG relations since diplomatic relations were established in 1976.

In my recent article, Fifty Years of China–Papua New Guinea Relations: Strategic Shifts, Developmental Diplomacy and the Future Trajectory, published in the Australian Journal of International Affairs, I demonstrate that successive Papua New Guinean governments have consistently reaffirmed the One China Policy despite periodic debates over Taiwan. The policy has remained the cornerstone of bilateral relations with Beijing for almost five decades.

The most instructive example came under Sir Michael Somare.

In 1988, Somare allowed Taiwan to establish a trade office in Port Moresby. However, this was carefully managed as an economic and commercial arrangement rather than diplomatic recognition. PNG continued to recognise the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China while simultaneously expanding opportunities for trade and investment with Taiwan.

Somare understood that diplomacy is not a choice between partners.

It is about advancing national interests while remaining consistent with established foreign policy principles.

Foreign Policy Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

Too often, public debate frames China and Taiwan as an either-or choice.

International relations are rarely that simple.

Many countries maintain official diplomatic relations with Beijing while allowing businesses, universities, trade organisations and private institutions to engage Taiwan economically and culturally. Such engagement does not necessarily undermine the One China Policy because it is conducted within carefully defined diplomatic boundaries.

This is precisely the balance that Somare achieved.

Rather than seeing Taiwan as a diplomatic rival to China, he viewed Taiwan as an economic opportunity that could complement PNG's national development while preserving political relations with Beijing.

That remains a valuable lesson today.

The Guangdong Lesson

Interestingly, PNG's current government is already following a similar philosophy in its engagement with China.

During Prime Minister James Marape's recent visit to Guangzhou, he revealed that President Xi Jinping had encouraged PNG to strengthen cooperation with Guangdong Province after discussions on PNG's development priorities. Marape later remarked that he realised President Xi had directed PNG towards China's largest provincial economy—a global centre for manufacturing, technology, trade and innovation.

This was more than a diplomatic courtesy.

It reflected China's own approach to international engagement.

China increasingly encourages provincial governments to develop international partnerships that complement national diplomacy. Provinces such as Guangdong play a significant role in attracting investment, facilitating trade, promoting educational exchanges and supporting technological cooperation.

Papua New Guinea should learn from this model.

Rather than viewing foreign policy exclusively through national governments, PNG should actively expand province-to-province, university-to-university, business-to-business and people-to-people partnerships.

Doing so strengthens economic diplomacy without altering the country's official diplomatic position.

A Modern Somare Model

If I were advising Governor Allan Bird, I would recommend a modern version of the Somare model.

First, PNG should continue to uphold the One China Policy as the foundation of its diplomatic relationship with Beijing.

Second, it should deepen strategic cooperation with China through initiatives such as provincial partnerships with Guangdong and other economically dynamic provinces.

Third, PNG should continue to explore legitimate commercial, educational, tourism and cultural engagement with Taiwan where these activities are consistent with the One China Policy and do not imply diplomatic recognition.

These approaches are not contradictory.

They are complementary.

They recognise that foreign policy is about creating opportunities for PNG rather than unnecessarily limiting them.

Looking Beyond Waigani

Foreign policy should not be confined to national governments alone.

Provincial governments, universities, chambers of commerce, research institutions and the private sector all have important roles to play in expanding PNG's international engagement.

Just as China leverages its provinces to support national development, PNG should encourage its own provinces to develop international economic partnerships that contribute to local development while remaining aligned with national foreign policy.

This is an area where Governor Allan Bird, as the Governor of East Sepik Province, could provide national leadership.

Provincial diplomacy, economic cooperation and educational partnerships can complement—not compete with—PNG's official foreign policy.

My Advice to Governor Allan Bird

My advice would therefore be straightforward.

Do not revisit the debate over diplomatic recognition.

Revisit the Somare model.

Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare demonstrated that PNG could maintain unwavering support for the One China Policy while simultaneously pursuing practical economic engagement with Taiwan.

Prime Minister James Marape's engagement with Guangdong Province demonstrates that China itself encourages practical cooperation beyond the national level.

Taken together, these experiences point towards a more sophisticated foreign policy.

PNG does not need to choose between Beijing and Taipei.

It needs to build a foreign policy that maximises opportunities with both, while remaining faithful to the One China Policy that has underpinned relations with China since 1976.

Conclusion

The debate sparked by Governor Allan Bird's comments should not be about whether PNG is choosing China over Taiwan.

It should be about how PNG can pursue its national interests more effectively.

History suggests that the answer has been before us all along.

Sir Michael Somare showed that principled diplomacy and pragmatic economic engagement can coexist. Prime Minister Marape's recent discussions with President Xi on strengthening ties with Guangdong Province reinforce the importance of expanding cooperation beyond traditional state-to-state diplomacy.

The challenge for PNG is not to abandon its long-standing foreign policy. The challenge is to modernise it.

By combining the diplomatic wisdom of Somare with the opportunities presented through subnational partnerships such as Guangdong, Papua New Guinea can pursue a foreign policy that is balanced, pragmatic and firmly anchored in the national interest.