POACHING: A KMT lawmaker urged Beijing to refrain from intervening in Taiwan’s diplomatic affairs, saying it only creates distance between the two sides of the Strait
Taipei Times
Date: May 02, 2018
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter
Lawmakers across party lines yesterday called for a new diplomatic strategy to curb a
A police officer stands next to the Dominican Republic flag, left, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Tyrone Siu, Reuters
“domino effect” after the Dominican Republic shifted diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not alert to signs of the impending switch, such as the Caribbean nation ignoring Taipei’s request that it advocate for Taiwan’s attendance at the World Health Assembly next month as an observer, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus secretary-general Lee Yen-hsiu (李彥秀) said at a news conference in Taipei
The incident was particularly ironic considering that Taiwan this year gave the Dominican Republic 50 high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, or Humvees, with a two-year warranty that reportedly cost NT$70 million (US$2.36 million), Lee said.
The Dominican Republic switching diplomatic recognition followed Panama’s cutting of official ties with Taiwan in June last year, indicating that Beijing’s move to poach Taiwan’s diplomatic allies has created a domino effect, she said. [FULL STORY]
