After China persuaded the Dominican Republic, one of the largest economies in the Caribbean region, to shift its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, some in Taiwan are saying the island’s taxpayers should thank the mainland, as otherwise their money would continue to be shelled out in this faraway nation to help keep it loyal.
Now that Beijing has dangled big carrots – low- or zero-interest loans plus grants rumored to be valued at US$3.09 billion – Taipei has suffered another diplomatic setback, in which a country that had been an ally for 77 years turned its back on Taiwan. This is the third diplomatic shift since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, after Panama and the West African nation of Sao Tomé and Principe severed ties with Taipei.
Taipei was caught off guard and humiliated as it was notified only an hour before the release of a joint China-Dominican Republic statement on the establishment of ambassadorial-level diplomatic ties, while the Taiwanese ambassador and other diplomats were given short notice to leave Santo Domingo, the capital city.
A Taiwanese naval fleet, led by the fast combat support ship Panshi, called at the Dominican Republic in April, and over the years Taipei has promised military aid totaling US$35 million, including 50 Humvees. Tsai’s predecessor Ma Ying-jeou donated some 1,000 police motorcycles and 80 ambulances during a 2015 visit.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu expressed regret over the Dominican Republic’s decision to “accept false promises of investment and aid by China” and end its 77-year-long friendship with Taiwan, while admitting at an ad hoc press conference that Beijing’s financial aid to the Latin American nation was “an astronomical figure that Taiwan cannot promise.”
He urged other nations to bear in mind Beijing’s poor record of following through with its financial pledges to Taiwan’s former allies, while condemning Beijing’s way of poaching Taipei’s allies.
Wu said Beijing’s failure to deliver on $1.4 billion of aid promised to Costa Rica to build a refinery and highways in 2007, as well as $140 million of aid pledged to Sao Tome and Principe in 2016 could serve as a lesson to Santo Domingo.
Taipei’s allies are now reduced to 19, among which the Vatican is also rumored to be preparing to ditch the island and embrace Beijing soon.
In an op-ed, the Taipei Times questioned whether the Tsai administration’s purchasing of diplomatic recognition in a losing battle of “checkbook diplomacy” with China was congruent with the government’s goal to project Taiwan on the world stage as a mature and responsible democracy and a trusted international partner. The paper prodded Taiwan authorities to beef up emergency humanitarian aid in disaster zones rather than splurging on a game with Beijing to woo allies and keep them loyal.
But analysts say Taipei is not going to lose all of its remaining friends overnight, as while Beijing is determined to outflank Taiwan and send a warning to Tsai and her cohorts, the mainland is still mindful to avoid driving a wedge between people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
It’s believed that Beijing may also offer economic concessions and other perks to Taiwanese businesspeople and students at a semi-official mainland-Taiwan forum to be held next month.
An adviser with the research organization Taiwan ThinkTank told the island’s Central News Agency that even if Beijing succeeds in goading all of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies into defection, it is nowhere closer to reclaiming the self-ruling island.
Read more:
1) After China persuaded the Dominican Republic…
Dominica Republic as well as the rest of taiwan’s diplomatic friends were already lining up to ditch taiwan and embrace beijing. Panama had indicated to china that it wanted to establish diplomatic relations during the administration of Ma Yingjeou. But because Ma’s government had established the 92 consensus with china, beijing delayed panama’s request until late last year.
2) Taipei was caught off guard and humiliated as it was notified only an hour before the release of a joint China-Dominican Republic statement…
Taiwan’s ex-foreign minister (in fact the entire taiwan) was well aware of the impending severing of relations way back last year when the FM of Dominica Republic was seen photographed shaking hands with China’s FM on his visit to the carribean. This was the catalyst for the offer of the humvees, ambulances, totaling NT 1 billion.
3) In an op-ed, the Taipei Times questioned whether the Tsai administration’s purchasing of diplomatic recognition in a losing battle of “checkbook diplomacy"…
Tacit acknowledgement that the taiwan government also indulges in "checkbook diplomacy" eh!
4) It’s believed that Beijing may also offer economic concessions and other perks to Taiwanese businesspeople and students at a semi-official mainland-Taiwan forum to be held next month.
Its already a done deal. Last month china offer 31 concessions to ordinary taiwanese from all walks of life to visit, study, do business, etc. In other words, taiwanese are ranked pari-passu with mainlanders now.
Taiwan is being slowly squeezed and is a poor reflection of what it was a few years back. There is not much value in maintaining an office in Taiwan for most countries. All the big players are lining up to be invited to Beijing.
I guess the ultimate will be when China demands the only China issued passport be the only travel document be valid and accepted by these countries.
China won’t do that, that would seriously anger the Taiwanese populace and force them to push for independence.
That scenario is only the begining of the results of diplomatical behavior of racism by Taiwan toward Haiti . When it is not corrupting members of the government by either channeling money directly to them personnally it is how they treat Haiti that will make DR such a spoiled neigbor. While Haiti needs to secure 345 miles of porous bother plus 1770 sea coast to battle against contraband and drugs instead they look to DR with 1000 motocycles 80 ambulance 50 humvies and lot of scolarships with 35 million . They have never invested in Haiti bringing factories even for transit they could have used the country to serve the americas. Meanwhile China has more than 600 merchants at this very moment in Haiti while no one ask why or how they are even do it. Haiti will soon or later lean toward China if they do not make some considerable change in how they treat the Island nation. Frankly it’s not handouts the country needs but real commercial consideration and mutual friendship
We are the DominicAN Republic. DominiCA is a small puny island. We are not that small and not as puny.
Everything that goes wrong with Haitians boils down to racism. Maybe it’s because Haiti is a mess?
Maybe it’s because Haiti doesn’t have any real institutions. There are over a million Haitians in Dominican Republic alone that have or did not have any documentation from Haiti.
The international community paid to give them the Docs for FREE and Port Aux Prince started charging it’s own people.
If China was so black averse, why do they invest in AFRICA which is full of black people?
Get your own house in order and you’ll see how Haiti once again becomes the pearl of the Caribbean instead of a butt of jokes.
William Marshall, the only value Taiwan has is as an achiles heel for the Chinese. USA uses them as a pawn to get back at a fast rising China. If a war happens then the Americans will fight China down to the last Taiwanese. Taiwan needs to talk to Beijing and assure it’s autonomy but work within an existing system. Taipei just isn’t strong enough to continue fighting this losing battle.
As a Dominican national, we are extremely embarrassed and sad our government which is full of crooks decided to deal with Taipei this way. Taipei was very good to us and the move should have been done much differently. So in name of many, many Dominicans, Thank you Taiwan for a great 71 years. Xie Xie….