recognition of the One China policy, and, as reported by Fiji Village, "thanked the Chinese government for fully recognizing Fiji's sovereignty and adopting a policy of non-interference in its domestic affairs". In May, Bainimarama told Australian reporter Graham Davis that, unlike Australia and New Zealand, the Chinese authorities were "very sympathetic and understand what’s happening here, that we need to do things in our own way". In June 2009, the Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement, an organisation founded in Australia to campaign for the restoration of democracy in Fiji, sent a petition to the Chinese embassy in Canberra, asking China to "withdraw support for the military regime". At the same time, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith asked China "not to use [its] contacts with Fiji to undermine efforts to pressure Fiji to hold elections". In February 2010, when Fiji's human rights record was examined by the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review, and several countries highlighted what they described as human rights violations under Commodore Bainimarama's administration, the Chinese delegation intervened to "commend the Fiji government for the efforts it has made in the promotion and protection of human rights". On 10 May 2017, Fiji closed its Fiji Trade and Tourism Representative Office in Taipei in Taiwan. Taiwan, however, still operates its trade mission to Fiji. On October 8 2020, Chinese embassy officials gatecrashed and then attacked Taiwanese officials as they were holding the ROC National Day celebration with Fijian officials. One of the Taiwan officials who was assaulted needed to be taken into hospital. One of the Chinese officials was also injured. The whole incident was condemned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan (MOFA), the Democratic Progresive Party (DPP) and the Kuomintang (KMT). In the aftermath of this assault, Fiji says it will start protecting Taiwanese officials. See also Foreign relations of China#Fiji Sino-Pacific relations#Fiji References Fiji Bilateral relations of Fiji