Atlas
05-01-2007, 02:03 PM
China Rages at St. Lucia Over Taiwan Tie
By CHARLES HUTZLER
Associated Press Writer
May 1, 2007, 12:42 PM EDT
BEIJING -- China lashed out at the tiny Caribbean nation of St. Lucia on Tuesday for restoring diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as Chinese territory.
The resumption of ties with Taiwan was an "open violation" of a 1997 agreement that established diplomatic relations between St. Lucia and Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a statement carried by the official Xinhua News Agency.
This "is brutal interference in China's internal affairs," Liu said. "We express indignation and opposition."
China and Taiwan split amid civil war 58 years ago, and Beijing since has tried to keep the island diplomatically isolated as a pressure tactic to force reunification. The two sides frequently offer aid and trade inducements to get countries to switch sides.
Taiwan has been battling Beijing for diplomatic allies for more than 20 years, and takes losses -- and its few gains -- very seriously. In October 2005, Taiwan was incensed when China persuaded the African nation of Senegal to break off relations with the island on the eve of a high-profile trip there by Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-Chang.
China had whittled away at Taiwan's diplomatic engagement, reducing the island's allies to just 24 mostly small and impoverished nations in the South Pacific and Africa. Tuesday's announcement that St. Lucia's had agreed to become No. 25 was the first diplomatic plus for Taiwan in some time.
Liu said China's ambassador to St. Lucia had lodged a protest with the island's government over Tuesday's announcement of new relations with Taiwan. He urged St. Lucia to have diplomatic relations with Beijing only.
"Otherwise, the government of St. Lucia will be fully responsible for the consequences incurred," Liu said. The statement did not elaborate on possible acts of retribution, but Beijing does not allow countries to recognize both it and Taiwan's governments.
St. Lucia's foreign minister, Rufus Bousquet, told local radio the government felt the action was in the island's best interest.
"We are confident that our friends in Taiwan will ensure that they assist us in every way possible in our developmental goals," he said, without offering any details of the deal.
Speaking by video conference from St. Lucia, Taiwanese Foreign Minister James Huang said the move showed Taiwan can overcome China's vigorous objections and increase its diplomatic allies.
"Despite the tremendous Chinese pressure brought by Beijing's (economic and political) ascent, we have secured another diplomatic ally," Huang said. "This is an indication that Taiwan is a respected member of the international community."
St. Lucia, with a population of roughly 168,000 people, had diplomatic relations with Taiwan for years under Prime Minister John Compton. But after his United Workers Party was defeated by the Labor Party in 1996, St. Lucia recognized China and dropped relations with Taiwan.
Compton's party returned to power in December's elections, however, and he said he might re-establish ties with Taiwan.
China responded by pledging more money and technical assistance to St. Lucia.
Taiwan's foreign minister then traveled to the island in March to discuss relations with Compton. During his visit, Huang described the 82-year-old St. Lucian leader as "our dear old friend," prompting a formal protest from Chinese Ambassador Gu Huaming.
Huang denied Tuesday that St. Lucia's decision was influenced by large amounts of Taiwanese aid.
Over the past several years, members of Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party and others have criticized such spending as undesirable, saying it demeans the nation's democracy.
The issue surged to the fore a year ago after angry mobs in the Solomon Islands burned down much of the ethnic Chinese enclave in that Pacific nation's capital, Honiara, following charges of Taiwanese meddling in prime ministerial elections.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry denies there is anything shady about its diplomatic efforts and says the spending on aid in the campaign is not excessive. It said the cost of such activities in 2005 came to 0.14 percent of Taiwan's gross domestic product, or just over $460 million.
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-china-taiwan-st-lucia,0,2312639.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines
By CHARLES HUTZLER
Associated Press Writer
May 1, 2007, 12:42 PM EDT
BEIJING -- China lashed out at the tiny Caribbean nation of St. Lucia on Tuesday for restoring diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as Chinese territory.
The resumption of ties with Taiwan was an "open violation" of a 1997 agreement that established diplomatic relations between St. Lucia and Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a statement carried by the official Xinhua News Agency.
This "is brutal interference in China's internal affairs," Liu said. "We express indignation and opposition."
China and Taiwan split amid civil war 58 years ago, and Beijing since has tried to keep the island diplomatically isolated as a pressure tactic to force reunification. The two sides frequently offer aid and trade inducements to get countries to switch sides.
Taiwan has been battling Beijing for diplomatic allies for more than 20 years, and takes losses -- and its few gains -- very seriously. In October 2005, Taiwan was incensed when China persuaded the African nation of Senegal to break off relations with the island on the eve of a high-profile trip there by Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-Chang.
China had whittled away at Taiwan's diplomatic engagement, reducing the island's allies to just 24 mostly small and impoverished nations in the South Pacific and Africa. Tuesday's announcement that St. Lucia's had agreed to become No. 25 was the first diplomatic plus for Taiwan in some time.
Liu said China's ambassador to St. Lucia had lodged a protest with the island's government over Tuesday's announcement of new relations with Taiwan. He urged St. Lucia to have diplomatic relations with Beijing only.
"Otherwise, the government of St. Lucia will be fully responsible for the consequences incurred," Liu said. The statement did not elaborate on possible acts of retribution, but Beijing does not allow countries to recognize both it and Taiwan's governments.
St. Lucia's foreign minister, Rufus Bousquet, told local radio the government felt the action was in the island's best interest.
"We are confident that our friends in Taiwan will ensure that they assist us in every way possible in our developmental goals," he said, without offering any details of the deal.
Speaking by video conference from St. Lucia, Taiwanese Foreign Minister James Huang said the move showed Taiwan can overcome China's vigorous objections and increase its diplomatic allies.
"Despite the tremendous Chinese pressure brought by Beijing's (economic and political) ascent, we have secured another diplomatic ally," Huang said. "This is an indication that Taiwan is a respected member of the international community."
St. Lucia, with a population of roughly 168,000 people, had diplomatic relations with Taiwan for years under Prime Minister John Compton. But after his United Workers Party was defeated by the Labor Party in 1996, St. Lucia recognized China and dropped relations with Taiwan.
Compton's party returned to power in December's elections, however, and he said he might re-establish ties with Taiwan.
China responded by pledging more money and technical assistance to St. Lucia.
Taiwan's foreign minister then traveled to the island in March to discuss relations with Compton. During his visit, Huang described the 82-year-old St. Lucian leader as "our dear old friend," prompting a formal protest from Chinese Ambassador Gu Huaming.
Huang denied Tuesday that St. Lucia's decision was influenced by large amounts of Taiwanese aid.
Over the past several years, members of Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party and others have criticized such spending as undesirable, saying it demeans the nation's democracy.
The issue surged to the fore a year ago after angry mobs in the Solomon Islands burned down much of the ethnic Chinese enclave in that Pacific nation's capital, Honiara, following charges of Taiwanese meddling in prime ministerial elections.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry denies there is anything shady about its diplomatic efforts and says the spending on aid in the campaign is not excessive. It said the cost of such activities in 2005 came to 0.14 percent of Taiwan's gross domestic product, or just over $460 million.
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-china-taiwan-st-lucia,0,2312639.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines