During the Taiwanese Foreign Minister’s visit to Guatemala, China urged the nation to “make the right choice,” implying a switch in diplomatic relations from Taiwan to Beijing. In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Beijing, stating it has “no right to interfere” in Taiwan’s diplomatic affairs.
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung arrived in Guatemala to embark on his 11-day trip to five of Taiwan’s Caribbean and Latin America allies last Thursday. In a Facebook post, Lin led a government delegation to visit Guatemala, along with his wife, and joined the dinner organized by the President Bernardo Arévalo.
Apart from the President, Lin also met with Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Ramiro Martinez. Together, they celebrated “90 years of friendship between Taiwan and Guatemala.”
“We thank President Arévalo for his long-standing and unwavering support for Taiwan. Our two countries share common values in democracy, peace, and human rights,” Lin wrote in his Facebook post.
Lin highlighted how Taiwan and Guatemala stood up for and support each other. For example, during times of Chinese economic coercion, Taiwan promptly increased its purchases of Guatemalan coffee.
Similarly, when Taiwan was treated unfairly by the World Health Organization (WHO), Guatemala advocated for Taiwan’s participation in relevant UN organizations and firmly voiced its support for Taiwan, he added.
Lin called for deepening cooperation between Taiwan, Guatemala, and other countries with similar ideals, including enhancing bilateral economic and investment ties, particularly in areas such as high technology, textiles, healthcare, and infrastructure.
On behalf of the President Lai Ching-te, Lin cordially invited President Arévalo and his wife to lead a delegation to visit Taiwan, so as to collaboratively plan for the next 90 years of Taiwan-Guatemala relations.
In response to Lin’s visit to Guatemala, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian stated at a press conference last Friday that “there is only one China, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of its territory.”
He cited UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, which recognized the People’s Republic of China’s rightful seat in the UN.
Lin expressed that an increasing number of forward-thinking individuals in Guatemala recognize that switching diplomatic relations to China serves the long-term interests of the country and its people.
He urged the Guatemalan government to switch diplomatic recognition by “acknowledging the trend” and “making the right choice.”
On Sunday, the MOFA swiftly condemned Beijing’s attempts to undermine the relationship between Guatemala and Taiwan by misinterpreting UN Resolution 2758 and promoting its “One China” principle.
The MOFA reaffirmed that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent nation, and that Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to one another—this reflects the objective reality of the Taiwan Strait and is recognized by the international community.
The statement clarified that while UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan, it does not validate China’s incorrect assertion of the “One China principle.”
Additionally, the MOFA emphasized that Taiwan’s diplomatic relations with other countries are grounded in mutual respect and equality, asserting that no external parties have the right to interfere.
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TNL Editor: Kim Chan (@thenewslensintl)
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Publish date : 2024-10-28 00:03:00
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