Senegal restores ties with Beijing after nine-year Taiwan hiatus

Reuter (Via Yahoo) ^ | 25th Oct. 2005 | Philip Pullella

[Petey139]

DAKAR, Oct 25 (AFP) - Senegal said it would restore diplomatic ties with China, becoming the latest west African country to ditch relations with Taiwan in favor of mighty Beijing.

A government statement, released after a Beijing trip by Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, hailed the "important decision to renew diplomatic relations with China" and said both countries would soon exchange ambassadors.

A joint statement published in the Chinese capital and reported by the state news agency Xinhua said the re-establishment of ties after the hiatus "conformed to the interests and aspirations of the two countries."

China had severed its ties with Senegal in January 1996 for Dakar's having recognized the island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province that will eventually be reunited with the mainland.

Separated in 1949 after the end of a civil war, China and Taiwan have waged a diplomatic battle to lure allies from each other with generous financial packages and economic aid programs.

In the latest win for Beijing, Senegal said this week it recognized that "the People's Republic of China is the sole government legally representing all of China and that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory."

The decision "corresponds perfectly to the fundamental interests of our country and the spirit of the new global diplomacy serving our national interests," the Senegalese government said in a statement.

A source close to the Senegalese presidency told AFP that it made sense for Dakar to change its allegiance because "a country which has diplomatic ambitions like Senegal cannot maintain such a stance in front of China."

The Taiwanese embassy in Dakar expressed regret at the decision.

"Cooperation between Taiwan and Senegal has been bilateral, a multiform cooperation of friendship and social and economic development," communications director Blanche Hsu told AFP.

"We very much regret the decision taken by Senegal, and that Senegal has said that Taiwan was a province, part of the integral territory of China."

The foreign ministry in Taipei later Tuesday said it had formally severed diplomatic relations with Senegal and also cut its financial aid programs.

"Under political pressure and lure of financial reward, Senegal has restored diplomatic relations with China and decided to maintain with us only economic, business and cultural ties," foreign ministry spokesman Michel Lu said.

"The Republic of China (Taiwan) deeply regretted this and decided to break relations with Senegal immediately and stop all aid programs to the country to safeguard the dignity and sovereignty of our country."

West Africa has been a battleground for checkbook diplomacy between China and Taiwan. The Gambia and Burkina Faso remain Taiwan's sole partners in the region after Senegal's defection.

Liberia switched its ties in 2003, a move that paved the way for China sending its first-ever peacekeepers to join a UN mission.

The number of countries worldwide maintaining links with Taiwan has now dropped to 25, after Grenada in January also opted to join with Beijing.

[Tai_Chung]

I believe the US should formally recognize Taiwan. If Beijing dares break relations with the US over the decision, they should automatically lose Most Favored Nation status.