FOUNDATIONS:The National Security Bureau has reported concerns that Taiwan’s diplomatic ties are at risk of being undermined by Beijing ahead of Tsai’s inauguration

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 22, 2016
By: Staff writer, with Reuters and CNA

Taiwan’s top security agency yesterday said that China’s move to set up diplomatic ties with one of Taiwan’s former African allies was meant to put pressure on president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) to “fall in line” before her inauguration on May 20.

China resumed ties with the small west African state of the Gambia last week, ending an unofficial diplomatic truce between China and Taiwan following landslide wins in presidential and parliamentary elections by Tsai and the Democratic Progressive Party.

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

The National Security Bureau (NSB) said in a report yesterday presented to the legislature that Taiwan’s ties with its few remaining diplomatic allies were at risk of being undermined by financial aid packages from China.

“The warning to our new government was thick with meaning,” the bureau’s report said. “It had the intention of pressuring president-elect Tsai Ing-wen to respond in her May 20 inaugural speech in a way that falls in line with China’s expectations.”     [FULL  STORY]