By Jess Macy Yu
Beijing: The Dominican Republic has severed ties with Taiwan and switched its allegiance to China in another diplomatic blow to the self-ruled island, which accused the Caribbean nation of accepting false promises of aid from Beijing.
Dominican Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas, left, hugs Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi after they signed the joint communique at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, on Tuesday.Credit: AP
Taiwan, claimed by China as its own, has formal relations now with only 19 countries, many of them poor nations in Central America and the Pacific.
China says Taiwan is simply a wayward province with no right to state-to-state ties.
China and Taiwan have tried to poach each other's allies over the years, often dangling generous aid packages in front of developing nations, though Taipei struggles to compete with an increasingly powerful China.
Panama ended its long-standing relationship with Taiwan last year in a major diplomatic victory for China.
China has stepped up the pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election as President Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party.
Beijing fears she will push for Taiwan's formal independence but Tsai says she wants to maintain the status quo.
The news on the Dominican Republic on Tuesday drew strong and swift condemnation from Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, who told reporters China had offered financial incentives to attract their 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," Wu said.
The Chinese government's top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, lauded the decision, in comments to reporters in Beijing at a hastily arranged news conference.
"This important and correct decision by the Dominican Republic absolutely accords with the basic interests of the country and its people," Wang said.
Reuters