Dominican Republic severs relations with Taiwan in win for China

The Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic has severed its diplomatic ties with Taiwan, officially recognizing Chinese sovereignty over the self-ruled island.

A Tuesday statement on the Dominican president’s website said the country had made the decision after a long process of consultation and pointed to the potential for growth in trade relations with China.

It said that China was already the Dominican Republic’s second-largest supplier of imported products.

“Of course, we know that now [that] we’re establishing diplomatic relations, the growth potential of our trade links is immense,” presidential legal adviser Flavio Dario Espinal said.

He thanked Taiwan and cited “historical and socioeconomic” reasons for the switching of allegiance.

“We are deeply grateful for the cooperation we’ve shared for years,” he said. “However, history and the socioeconomic reality force us now to change direction.” He did not elaborate.

Most countries in the world adhere to the so-called One China policy, according to which self-ruled Taiwan is considered Chinese territory. With the departure of the Dominican Republic, Taiwan is now left with a mere 19 diplomatic allies.

Panama, then another important ally, severed ties with Taiwan late last year.

PressTV-Panama opens embassy in China after ditching Taiwan

President Varela proposed the idea of cutting diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 2006, a year after he became the leader of his party in 2006, only to go ahead with the decision this June.

Taiwan reacted angrily to the move by the Dominican Republic, with its top diplomat claiming that China had offered financial incentives to attract the Caribbean country’s support.

“President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic has ignored our long-term partnership, the wishes of the people of the Dominican Republic, and the years of development assistance provided by Taiwan, to accept false promises of investment and aid by China,” Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told reporters.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, though, lauded the decision.

“This important and correct decision by the Dominican Republic absolutely accords with the basic interests of the country and its people,” Wang said. “We highly appreciate this.”

China and Taiwan split amid a civil war in 1949; however, Beijing’s leadership pursues reunification.

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