Just 17 countries recognise Taiwan after El Salvador switches allegiance to Beijing
The Guardian
Date: 21 Aug 2018
By: Lily Kuo in Beijing
The president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, has vowed to fight against Chinese
El Salvador’s foreign minister, Carlos Castaneda, shakes hands with China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, on 21 August. Photograph: Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images
pressure after the island lost the diplomatic allegiance of El Salvador to Beijing.
El Salvador and Taiwan severed official ties on Monday after the central American country announced the move. Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it had terminated bilateral ties with El Salvador and was recalling all staff from the country.
“We will turn to countries with similar values to fight together against China’s increasingly out-of-control international behaviour,” Tsai said.
The latest diplomatic switch leaves Taiwan further isolated on the international stage. Beijing claims that Taiwan, which operates under its own government, currency, and military, is an inseparable part of China and says it will not maintain ties with any country that has formal diplomatic ties with Taipei. [FULL STORY]
