Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/18
By: Chiang Chin-yeh and Joseph Yeh

Washington, Sept. 17 (CNA) The United States opposes China's destabilization of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and will look into the the reasons the Solomon Islands' decided Monday to change allegiance from Taipei to Beijing, a senior U.S. official told CNA Tuesday.

Taiwan cut diplomatic ties with the Solomon Islands on Monday after the South Pacific island-nation decided to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The severing of ties leaves Taiwan with only 16 diplomatic allies.

Asked about the U.S. stance on the matter, a senior U.S. administration official told CNA Tuesday that Washington is disappointed with Beijing's repeated efforts to take away more of Taipei's diplomatic allies.

"Rather than engaging in dialogue and reconciliation with Taiwan's elected leadership, Beijing has chosen to constrict Taiwan's global space and engage in a counterproductive attempt to interfere in Taiwan's democratic processes," the unnamed official said in an email.    [FULL  STORY]