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Taiwan says goodbye to another ally

"It is regrettable that Liberia's transitional government, due to intimidation and bribery from China, has decided to establish formal relations with China."

Richard Shih, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman

The government yesterday terminated diplomatic ties with Liberia after the war-torn African country decided to switch diplomatic recognition to Beijing.

"It is regrettable that Liberia's transitional government, due to intimidation and bribery from China, has decided to establish formal relations with China," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Richard Shih (石瑞琦) said at press conference called to address the event.

"In order to uphold Taiwan's national dignity and interests, the government decided to sever ties with Liberia and call off all aid programs to Liberia," Shih said.

The termination of diplomatic relations with Liberia reduces the number of diplomatic allies to 26.

Last year, the tiny Pacific island of Nauru cut ties with Taiwan. In 2001, the Balkan nation of Macedonia switched recognition to China. The lost support has yet to be replaced.

Francis Lee (李宗儒), director general of the ministry's Department of African Affairs, said that Liberia's decision to end ties with Taiwan was result of pressure from China.

"According to information we received, China, in its incessant effort to oppress Taiwan in the international community, has been privately bribing Liberian officials as well as asserting pressure and promising the Liberian government that it will provide loans, resource assistance and the like," Lee said.

Shih said that China, given its position as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been putting pressure upon Liberia by threatening to block a US$250 million budget for the UN's peacekeeping troops in the country.

"China has used its role in the UN to place pressure on Liberia to accommodate China's policy [with regard to Taiwan]," Lee said, adding that Liberia's acting foreign minister told Ambassador to Liberia Chen Yeong-cho (陳永綽) that his government's decision to establish ties with Beijing was the result of intense pressure from the UN and neighboring countries.

Lee said Liberia's transitional government is planning to sign a joint communique with Beijing today that will state that the PRC is the sole legitimate Chinese government and Taiwan is a part of China.

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