Taiwan's President has urged Australia, the United States and Japan to join with her country in a "values-based partnership" to push back against growing Chinese influence in the Pacific.

Key points: Beijing regards Taiwan as a mutinous province and is intent on poaching its Pacific allies

Beijing regards Taiwan as a mutinous province and is intent on poaching its Pacific allies President Tsai Ing-wen accused China of undermining "stability and good governance"

President Tsai Ing-wen accused China of undermining "stability and good governance" Pacific nations say great powers should stop using them as geopolitical "pawns"

Six of Taipei's remaining allies lie in the Pacific, and Beijing has been intent on poaching them as it intensifies efforts to isolate Taiwan, which it sees as a mutinous province.

President Tsai Ing-wen issued her call on the last day of a Pacific trip designed to shore up its relations with three of those nations — Palau, Nauru and Marshall Islands.

China has been ramping up investment in its Pacific allies, but Ms Tsai accused Beijing of undermining "stability and good governance" in the region.

"This is why I think it's essential for Taiwan and like-minded countries to work through and create a values-based partnership in the Pacific," she said.

"I believe that when given a choice Pacific states would prefer assistance and investments come from countries which share their values and interests."

Ms Tsai said nations like Australia, the United States and Japan could better coordinate their efforts on aid and infrastructure to ensure that they could maximise their influence.

All three countries share unease about China's rise in the region and have promised to ramp up investment in infrastructure through the Pacific in response.

Ms Tsai said "like-minded countries" needed to "share the good narrative we've been building, not only with their governments but also everyday people".

Tsai Ing-wen says the Pacific would prefer investments from countries with similar values. ( Supplied: Office of the President of Taiwan )

Controversially, she also called for them to intensify their criticism of Chinese lending and investment in the region.

"[We will] cooperate with partners to counter the Chinese narrative and share examples of areas where the Chinese have not lived up to their promises in the region," she said.

"We believe our values underpin each and every one of our relations in the Pacific, and we want to work actively with like-minded partners to build a broad partnership to ensure these values are protected."

The comments are likely to anger Beijing. Several Pacific island nations have also dismissed previous warnings from Australia and the US about Chinese investment in the Pacific, accusing Canberra and Washington of patronising behaviour.

Last year Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele, said that great powers should stop using Pacific nations as "pawns" in a geopolitical struggle, and respect their right to self-determination.

The new US ambassador, Arthur Culvahouse, recently said Beijing engaged in "pay day loan diplomacy" in the Pacific, accusing it of loading small nations with unsustainable debts that it could use as leverage.

China has consistently rejected the assertion. Earlier this month China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, said its Belt and Road initiative was "an economic pie that benefits the local population" and not a "geopolitical tool".