Costa Rica breaks relations with Taiwan

Costa Rica breaks relations with Taiwan

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — President Oscar Arias announced Wednesday that Costa Rica has broken diplomatic ties with Taiwan after nearly 60 years and established relations with China.

In a decision that could badly hit Taiwan's fragile international standing, Arias said Costa Rica needed to strengthen ties with China to attract foreign investment.

Since splitting amid civil war in 1949, Taiwan and China have fought to win the diplomatic allegiance of countries around the world. China refuses to have diplomatic ties with nations that recognize Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province it plans to eventually reunify with the mainland.

"Taiwan has been very generous and I thank it for the solidarity and co-operation it has shown for nearly 60 years, but I have taken this decision thinking of all the Costa Ricans," Arias said at a news conference.

"We are looking to strengthen the commercial ties and attract investment," he said "China is the most successful emerging economy in the world and soon it will be the second strongest economy in the world after the United States."
FIND MORE STORIES IN: China | Beijing | San Jose | Costa Rica | Taiwanese | Central America | Central American nation | Costa Ricans

China spends heavily to induce nations to change diplomatic allegiances, offering investment, loans and other incentives.

Arias said China is the Central American nation's No. 1 trading partner, buying more than $1 billion (euro740 million) worth of Costa Rican exports last year.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister James Huang was set to brief reporters Thursday on Costa Rica's decision, the foreign ministry said.

Taiwan has been concerned about a deterioration of its relations with Costa Rica since May 14, when the Latin American country voted at an international health conference against holding a discussion on proposed Taiwanese membership in the World Health Organization.

On May 25, Foreign Minister James Huang met with officials from Costa Rica and four other Latin American countries in Belize City in an effort to shore up Taiwan's diplomatic standing in the region.

Central America in particular has been a bulwark of support for Taiwan, and Taiwan had expressed fears that if Costa Rica were to shift its recognition to Beijing, other nations such as Nicaragua and Panama could soon follow suit.

That would leave the democratic island of 23 million people counting on countries like Palau and St. Lucia to bolster its claims of international legitimacy.

Arias declined to comment on whether his decision could encourage other Central American nations to transfer their allegiance from Taipei to Beijing.

"I won't speculate on the consequences of this decision in the rest of Central American because I made it thinking about Costa Rica," he said.

Salvadoran President Tony Saca said Wednesday that his nation was interested in establishing relations with China but did not want to sever ties with Taiwan.

"Taiwan is an independent country that has won its space and we will going maintaining relations with Taiwan. If China accepts this we will open relations with pleasure," Saca said.
Copyright 2007 The Assoc

By Waterdawg on Jun 7, 2007, 07:30 in Politics & the war.

kalder says on Jun 7, 2007, 08:26:

Well, if the big boys won't stand up to that disgusting communist slave-state, it's probably no great surprise that some of the small-fry won't either. Still, breaking off diplomatic ties with a beleagured democracy in the hope of drumming up a bit of trade is grubby and venal, to say the least.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

Waterdawg says on Jun 7, 2007, 11:19:

Kalder ..You ain't seen nothing yet ! Thats why we need the new TLC. here in Colombia ..

kalder says on Jun 8, 2007, 00:56:

Waterdawg What's the TLC?

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

scotty says on Jun 8, 2007, 04:24:

China get used to its boys China unfortunetely is on the rise in everyway, financial, production, military power, enfluence, etc. they are moving in everywhere, in 10 15 years its gonna be a whole new world.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

athensugadawg says on Jun 10, 2007, 19:32:

Interesting.... given that the "Puente de Amistad" that crosses the Rio Tempisque isn't that old..and Taiwan footed that bill to the tune of at least 20 million US. Personally, I hope that fishing habits will change, shark fin soup consumption in Taiwan has decimated the Costa Rican shark population. In all probability nothing will change, except where the final product is being sent to.

Funny to see the Taiwanese sailors with a couple of beers in them wandering around Puntarenas...talking about not being able to hold their liquor...!

scotty says on Jul 6, 2007, 06:52:

THIS IS NOT COLOMBIA RELATED?

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

Mario says on Jul 6, 2007, 06:53:

Neither is this:

"scotty says on Friday June 8th, 2007 4:24:

China get used to its boys China unfortunetely is on the rise in everyway, financial, production, military power, enfluence, etc. they are moving in everywhere, in 10 15 years its gonna be a whole new world."