Dominican Republic Severs Ties with ROC|多明尼加與台灣斷交 教廷邦交備受關注
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The Dominican Republic announced on May 1 that it has severed ties with the Republic of China and switched its allegiance to China. That's after 77 years of diplomatic ties. Foreign Minister Joseph Wu denounced China for using money to poach the ROC's diplomatic allies. Meanwhile, President Tsai Ing-wen accused China of damaging the current relationship between Taiwan and China. Analysts say the next ally to break ties may be the Holy See.
The Republic of China and the Dominican Republic established formal diplomatic relations in 1941. Over the years, they have cooperated in many areas. At the end of 2016, the Dominican Republic held two rounds of talks with China about establishing diplomatic ties. Last year, then-Foreign Affairs Minister David Lee visited the Dominican Republic to try and shore up the relationship. In February, the two sides signed a memorandum on cooperation. Nevertheless, Taiwan was unable to compete with China's influence and money. On May 1, the Dominican Republic announced it has severed ties with the ROC and switched its allegiance to China. In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced China for engaging in dollar diplomacy to poach the ROC's allies.
China frequently uses huge amounts of money and aid to conduct dollar diplomacy and poach our diplomatic allies. It also uses other types of coarse behavior to prevent Taiwan's participation. Our nation has a deep contempt for and strongly condemns this.
Meanwhile, President Tsai Ing-wen accused Beijing of suppressing Taiwan and disrespecting its democratic system. She added China has already essentially destroyed the current bilateral relationship, and ruling and opposition camps should now unite to face other countries together.
It has yet again suppressed Taiwan. Everyone is well aware of this. Now is the time for us to be united. Political parties should not place their own interests ahead of the country's interests. I hope everyone can set aside their biases and adopt a uniform approach to the outside.
Scholars say China has been actively strengthening its diplomatic relations in recent years. In Latin America, it organizes the China-CELAC Forum, and has provided financial assistance to build ports and large infrastructure projects. Taiwan has no hope of matching China. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic is seeking to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and it needs China's support. As such, it has switched its allegiance to China. The Republic of China is losing diplomatic allies at a rate of one a year since Tsai took office. In 2016, it was Sao Tome and Principe. In 2017, Panama broke off relations. This year, the Dominican Republic has severed ties. Scholars say there is a clear domino effect occurring.
If the Holy See breaks off diplomatic relations, then we will lose our sole European ally. We also only have two diplomatic allies left in Africa. Although President Tsai just visited Swaziland and the relationship appears to be stable, it will be a big impact on us if Burkina Faso is poached. We are losing allies one by one, at a rate of one a year. This has happened for three straight years. I feel this is like a slow and painful death, because they are making us smaller and smaller.
Some scholars say there's no need to be overly pessimistic over the Holy See. In the past, the United States sought to prevent the expansion of China's influence in Latin America, its backyard, and China's diplomatic advances were seen as setbacks for the U.S. Scholars say Taiwan's foreign affairs is linked to the cross-strait relationship, and Taiwan and China must first sit down and talk to give Taiwan more room to maneuver diplomatically.
