Vanuatu's newly installed Prime Minister Ham Lini yesterday said his government no longer has official relations with Taiwan.
Taiwan's diplomats left the country on Tuesday night.
In a letter dated Dec. 13 to Chinese ambassador Bao Shusheng (鮑樹生) in Port Vila, Lini said the decision of his predecessor, Serge Vohor, to establish diplomatic ties with Taiwan had gone close to fracturing the relations which Vanuatu had long enjoyed with Beijing.
"I would like to apologize to you and the government of the People's Republic of China on behalf of the Vanuatu government and the people of Vanuatu for the events in the past two weeks that nearly destroyed the friendly relations our two countries have enjoyed for over 20 years," Lini said.
Following receipt of the letter, China immediately released US$2 million to the Vanuatu government for education that had been suspended during Vohor's term as prime minister.
In his letter, Lini confirmed Vanuatu had revoked ties with Taiwan and would adhere to the "one China" policy.
"The current government under my leadership adheres to and respects the `one China' policy," he said.
"The government of Vanuatu has revoked all agreements signed by Mr. Serge Vohor with Taiwan on 3rd November and will commit itself not to have any official relationship with Taiwan in the future," Lini added.
In a statement to the media, Lini said that following the formation of the new government in the early hours of Saturday morning, an urgent Council of Ministers meeting was held on Sunday in which the decision was formally made on the matter.
"We look forward to rebuilding and strengthening the historical friendly relations and cooperation between both countries in the interests of peace and both countries' mutual benefits at regional and international level," he said.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Michel Lu (
"In practice, Vanuatu's foreign ministry has to give us a diplomatic note to inform us of the abolition of official relations. We haven't received the note yet. Before that, the ties remain valid," Lu said.
The ministry will not give up relations with Vanuatu, Lu said, noting many members of parliament supported Vohor's decision to establish diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
"It is still possible that our dip-lomats will return to Vanuatu. Their departure does not mean the end of our communication with Vohor and other Taiwan-friendly officials in Vanuatu. We are keeping in touch with members of the new government and the foreign ministry," Lu said.
Lu added that prior to the Taiwanese diplomats' departure, China's embassy in Vanuatu notified all of the countries' airlines, demanding that they prevent all Taiwanese nationals from leaving the country.
"Fortunately, our diplomats there obtained information about China's maneuver in advance and managed to leave in time," Lu said, when asked to explain why the ministry decided to instruct the diplomats to fly to Fiji.
With the country's brief official relationship with Vanuatu drawing to an end, the ministry is now keeping a close eye on developments in Haiti.
China's ambassador to the UN, Wang Guangya (
Wang is scheduled to meet with Haiti's interim president Boniface Alexander, Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, and other officials.
The peacekeepers raised China's flag at their base, said Hsieh Hsin-ping (謝新平), Taiwan's ambassador to Haiti. It is "a normal practice" for UN peacekeeping troops to raise their national flags in countries where they are posted, Lu said.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College