With Gambia Move, China Ends Diplomatic Truce with Taiwan

 

Reuters, 17/03 15:26 CET

By Ben Blanchard and J.R. Wu

BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) – China resumed ties with former Taiwan ally Gambia on Thursday, ending an unofficial diplomatic truce between China and Taiwan following January’s landslide election of the leader of a pro-independence party as the self-ruled island’s president.

The small West African state was one of a few African countries, along with Burkina Faso, Swaziland and São Tomé and Príncipe, to recognise Taiwan, which China regards as a wayward province to be recovered by force if necessary.

China and Taiwan had for years tried to poach each other's allies, often dangling generous aid packages in front of leaders of developing nations.

But they began an unofficial diplomatic truce after signing a series of landmark trade and economic agreements in 2008 after the election of the China-friendly Ma Ying-jeou as Taiwan’s president, as Beijing tried to convince Taiwan of its friendly intentions after decades of hostility and suspicion. 

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Source: Euronews