'Abide by One-China principle': Taiwan opens office in Guyana, Beijing calls it 'mistake'

Taiwan has opened a representative office in South American country of Guyana, a move that has attracted ire of Chinese ministration. According to Taiwanese Foreign Ministry, island inked an agreement with Guyana on January 11 to open a Taiwan office, in effect a de facto embassy. Guyana has been in a dispute with neighboring Venezuela, a strong Chinese ally since long and an alliance between Taiwan and Guyana could hold strategic importance for both.  

Since Taiwan’s independence, China has claimed authority over its territory citing its ‘One nation, two system’ policy. In recent months, communist nation has stepped up its threats to bring self-governing island under its control by military force with frequent war games and aerial patrols. China has long opposed Taiwan’s statehood and establishment of diplomatic offices abro.

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'For tre purposes' 

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s foreign ministry asserted that its foreign office in Guyana h begun its initial operation back on January 15 noting that Caribbean nation was rich in natural resources. Guyana’s , however, clarified that it was not recognizing Taiwan as an independent state ding that office was being set up solely for tre purposes.  Speaking to international media reports, Guyanese foreign minister Hugh Todd stated that what was being set up “is a tre and investment office in Georgetown to create space for private sector in Taiwan and Guyana to do business”. He furr ded that Guyana was not recognising Taiwan as an independent state or establishing diplomatic relations with Taipei.

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China terms it as 'mistake' 

However, move h attracted angst of Chinese ministration who has warned Guyana to refrain for engaging in any diplomatic relation with Taipei. Speaking at a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin asserted that Beijing hoped Guyana would not engage in official ties with Taiwan, calling on country to "earnestly take steps to correct ir mistake".

Taiwan has also become a bone of contestation between China and US. China recently ramped up use of military and diplomatic threats to intimidate island. However, US has repeatedly shown support for island signing multiple arms deals and suppliers. country is also obliged to provide it with means to defend Taiwan under 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. 

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