AS Taiwan struggles to cope in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, China has added to its problems by announcing that Papua New Guinea had downgraded its relations with the self-ruled island.
Express
Date: Feb 13, 2018
China has become increasingly hostile towards Taiwan, claimed by Beijing as its own,
GETTY / EPA
China have upset Taiwan with the timing of their announcement on behalf of Papua New Guinea
since the election in 2016 of Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, and has increased diplomatic pressure.
In a statement late last night, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said China had forced Papua New Guinea to change the name of Taipei’s representative office in the country and remove diplomatic license plates from diplomats’ cars.
Papua New Guinea had “bent to pressure from mainland China”, the ministry said.
Taiwan and Papua New Guinea do not have formal diplomatic relations, but Taiwan opened a trade office there in 1990. [FULL STORY]
