Two international locations that preserve diplomatic ties with Taiwan despatched delegations to a high-level discussion board in Beijing earlier this week, highlighting mainland China’s versatile strategy to courting Taipei’s few remaining official companions, in keeping with analysts.
Representatives from Haiti and St Lucia, two Caribbean international locations which can be amongst Taiwan’s 12 formal allies, attended the China-Neighborhood of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) Discussion board on Tuesday, elevating issues about rising diplomatic strain from Beijing, which holds that the self-ruled island is an inalienable a part of China.
Based on analysts, the presence of the 2 Caribbean nations on the discussion board suggests Beijing has taken a “versatile strategy” in coping with international locations that recognise Taiwan. One scholar mentioned that participation within the occasion didn’t “essentially point out a shift in allegiance”, noting a pattern amongst many international locations in the direction of extra pragmatic diplomacy.
On the venue on Tuesday, the flags of Haiti and St Lucia have been seen in the principle plenary corridor, in keeping with Reuters. The flags of Guatemala and Belize – two different Celac members which have ties with Taiwan – weren’t seen within the room.
Haiti and St Lucia are each members of Celac, a regional bloc with 33 member states. On the discussion board, Haiti was represented by Haitian Minister of Overseas Affairs Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste, whereas diplomat Peter Lansiquot attended for St Lucia.
Taiwan’s international ministry mentioned the 2 international locations had notified it prematurely that their officers would attend and that relations remained “pleasant and steady”.
