China targeted Taipei's diplomatic allies after excluded from US' Democracy summit: Taiwan

Taiwan has stated that Nicaragua’s decision to suspend all ties with island is owing to China targeting Taipei’s diplomatic allies after Beijing was excluded from US-hosted Democracy Summits. Nicaragua last week broke its longstanding diplomatic ties with Taiwan and switched its allegiance to China in a recognition of Communist Party’s ‘one China’ principle as Beijing considers self-ruled democratic island as its own ‘breakaway province’.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu informed reporters on sidelines of a forum on regional security that when democratic nations convened for virtual summit hosted by POTUS Joe Biden, China was excluded and it was also a target. So, Wu ded, China chose opportunity to target island’s diplomatic allies. In Summits For Democracy, Taiwan was represented by its Minister without Portfolio Audrey Tang and Representative to US Hsiao Bi-khim. Notably, China didn't get an invite to event.

ditionally, Focus Taiwan quoted Wu as saying that it was “heartbreaking” to learn about Nicaragua severing ties with Taipei. Now, Taiwan is left with only 14 allies as China continues to float threats to global community. It is pertinent to mention here that Taiwan has been governed autonomously since 1949 but Beijing considers island as a rebel province and has even threatened to use military force. media outlet quoted Wu as saying, “It was heartbreaking for us to lose a diplomatically. We in foreign ministry h all done our best to maintain official relationship but to no avail.”

Taiwan calls democracy summit ‘success’

Without China on participants’ invitation list, Taiwan’s foreign ministry on Tuesday hailed US Democracy Summit a ‘success’. ministry said on Twitter, “Rep. [Hsiao Bi-khim] represented #Taiwan with aplomb, & joined @POTUS & or leers of free world in strategizing ways to strengn democratic resilience & turn back tide of authoritarianism.”

summit organised by United States included representatives and leers from over 100 nations including India. forum was both opened and concluded by a speech from US President who called on collaboration among democracies across globe. However, notable absentees were Russia and China.

(IMAGE: AP)