Burkina Faso Ditches Taiwan for China|受到中國壓力 布吉納法索斷交有跡象

To the dismay of all of Taiwan, Burkina Faso has cut diplomatic relations with the Republic of China. In response, Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu orally tendered his resignation to President Tsai Ing-wen on the night of May 24, but accepted Tsai's request to remain at his post. Taiwan's government points the blame to pressure from China


Located to the south of the Sahara Desert, Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world and has a literacy rate of just 30 percent. When former President Ma Ying-jeou visited in 2012, he proposed a "Lighting Up Africa" relief program to boost the literacy rate and send children to school. Relations have been rocky since then. Burkina Faso and the Republic of China established diplomatic relations in 1961, but relations ended for the first time in 1973 after Burkina Faso established ties with the People's Republic of China. Burkina Faso reestablished ties with the ROC in 1994, ending ties with the PRC. The African nation has switched allegiance once again. Burkina Faso has already said the change had nothing to do with money, but Taiwan believes otherwise.

Let's say the president wants to go on a state visit. This should be a major political event for them. We have kind of thought something was wrong since (Burkina Faso's rejected a visit from Tsai.)

President Tsai Ing-wen went on her first trip to Africa last month but ended up only visiting one country after Burkina Faso declined a visit from her. The government believed all was well after Burkina Faso submitted a proposal in support of Taiwan at this year's World Health Assembly, but the nation's delegation left the WHA early before actually voicing support for Taiwan. Taiwan believes the delegation was threatened by China and Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Wu orally tendered his resignation after the news broke.

I did indeed mention resigning to the president yesterday. The president said there was no need for me to resign because our diplomatic performance recently has been good.

The following day, Wu gave a scheduled speech at his alma mater, National Chengchi Univerisity. He confirmed that Tsai asked him to remain at his post but said he feels immense pressure having already lost two allies after less than three months in office.