Instant Alert: One of Taiwan’s largest diplomatic partners just cut them off — and chose China instead

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One of Taiwan's largest diplomatic partners just cut them off — and chose China instead

by Tara Francis Chan on May 1, 2018, 12:06 AM

One of Taiwan's largest diplomatic allies, the Dominican Republic, cut ties on Tuesday in order to establish relations with China.
China refuses to have diplomatic relations with any country that recognizes Taiwan, leaving the self-ruled island with just 19 allies.
Taiwan said it was "deeply upset" about the end of its 77-year long relationship with the Dominican Republic.
The foreign ministry also seemed to be losing its patience with China's "dollar diplomacy," where aid and investment is traded for cutting ties to Taiwan.

Taiwan lost one of its largest diplomatic allies when the Dominican Republic cut ties to officially establish relations with China instead.

Within the communique to create diplomatic relations with China, which was signed by the Dominican foreign minister in Beijing on Tuesday, was the declaration that "the Government of the Dominican Republic severs 'diplomatic relations' with Taiwan as of this day."

Taiwan's foreign minister Joseph Wu said his government is "deeply upset" about the two countries new ties.

Taiwan's political situation is highly contentious as the democratic island is self-ruled, and a pro-independence party has been in power since 2016.

But Beijing considers Taiwan to be a province of China that will eventually be fully reunified.

As a result, China refuses to have diplomatic relations with nations that deal diplomatically with Taiwan, as that treats the island like an independent country. And if Taiwan's global recognition increased, that could jeopardize China's claim to the island.

A statement released by the Dominican Republic confirmed the nation's changed allegiances.

"The Dominican Republic recognizes that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory," the statement read.

Without the Dominican Republic, there are only 19 remaining countries that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, notably Guatemala, Burkino Faso, and Haiti.

Dollar diplomacy may have been a factor

Panama City Panama

The statement released by Taiwan's foreign ministry hints at the nation's growing frustration at China.

While being headlined and initially formatted the same as similar statements in the past, it's roughly twice the normal length and overtly calls out China's method of picking off Taiwan's allies.

"We strongly condemn China's objectionable decision to use dollar diplomacy to convert Taiwan’s diplomatic allies," the statement read. "Developing nations should be aware of the danger of falling into a debt trap when engaging with China."

China has a pattern of picking off Taiwan's allies when a democratic party is in power, and using what's commonly called "debt trap diplomacy" to offer aid and loans for infrastructure to poorer countries in an effort to build its global Belt and Road Initiative.

But it appears Beijing may be using the same techniques to now lure countries away from Taiwan, with what the island calls "false promises of investment and aid."

"This was the result of China's efforts in offering vast financial incentives for the Dominican Republic to end their 77 years of diplomatic relations with Taiwan. It also follows China's actions last year in establishing diplomatic relations with Panama."

Taiwan's foreign ministry warned that former allies Costa Rica and Sao Tome and Principe have yet to receive more than $1 billion worth of assistance from China.

Earlier Tuesday, The Australian reported that the Solomon Islands, one of Taiwan's six allies in the Pacific, is looking to China for investment for an airport, a move that could worry Taipei.