Although the tug-of-war between China and Taiwan for diplomatic recognition in Africa has died down since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) took office in 2008, China is still trying to increase its political influence in the only four allies Taiwan has left on the continent, a source said yesterday.
Worldwide, the Republic of China (ROC) lost diplomatic ties with the Republic of Macedonia (2001), the Republic of Liberia (2003), the Commonwealth of Dominica (2004), the Republic of Vanuatu (2004), Grenada (2005), the Republic of Chad (2006) and the Republic of Senegal (2006) because of the diplomatic battle with Beijing in the past decade.
On April 7, Ma will embark on a tour to Burkina Faso, Gambia, Swaziland and the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, the only four nations in the 50-odd countries on the African continent that still have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
In comparison with other countries on the continent, these four countries lack significant mineral or other natural resources, the source said, adding that China was not yet considering taking these diplomatic allies away from Taiwan.
However, the source warned that China’s current complacency did not mean it did not have the means to pressure these nations into renouncing diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
It is also possible that these nations could approach China about commencing diplomatic ties, the source added.
The source said that Taiwan’s diplomatic situation in Africa was still very difficult and that it faced several threats.
The Chinese government was still using its state corporations as leverage and tried to sway opposition lawmakers to help bolster the case for ties with Beijing, the source said, adding that China’s actions had already seen its political influence spread in the four countries that remain Taiwan’s allies.
In the past, China made overtures toward a member of parliament from Swaziland’s economic stronghold of Manzini in the hope of laying the foundation for future diplomatic ties with the country.
Translated by Jake Chung, Staff Writer
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