Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves reaffirmed Tuesday that this country will not cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan as a precondition to setting up ties with China.
“Nobody can dictate to the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, so long as I am prime minister, any precondition. You can’t tell me that I must abandon a friend to have relations with you,” Gonsalves said during an interview with CNA in Taipei.
Some fear China could extend its pressure campaign, which has been widely condemned around the world, to stealing away some of Taiwan’s 14 remaining diplomatic allies around the world.
Beijing has already lured eight of Taiwan’s allies to switch allegiance since 2016, when President Tsai Ing-wen, who has adopted a far more adversarial stance toward China than her predecessor, took power.
But Gonsalves said Taiwan need not worry that St. Vincent and the Grenadines would switch diplomatic recognition to China.
Prime Minister returned from a 6 day visit to Taiwan on Sunday, and is set to update the nation this recent official visit as well as other issues of national importance in a press conference tomorrow Tuesday August 16th.
