Government calls ambassador to Grenada back home

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed yesterday it has called back the nation's ambassador to Grenada, Allen Jiang (姜禮尚), a move seen as an expression of Taiwan's dissatisfaction with Grenada's criticism of Taipei and its diplomatic leanings toward Beijing.

Apart from Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell's recent trip to Beijing to discuss establishing diplomatic ties, the country's foreign minister is also planning to visit China shortly, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) told reporters.

"We called back our ambassador in Grenada to explain the situation there," Chen said.

A senior diplomat told the Central News Agency that Taiwan informed Grenada last Friday of its decision to summon its ambassador back to Taipei. Jiang, who returned during the weekend, would stay in Taiwan for "an indefinite period."

"Grenada maintains diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, but its prime minister held secret talks with China to establish official ties. This behavior and [the prime minister's] groundless accusation of Taiwan's neglect of his country are intolerable," the diplomat was quoted as saying.

"Taiwan values all its allies and has done nothing wrong to Grenada," the diplomat said.

While Mitchell appeared to have failed to reach an agreement on building diplomatic relations during his trip, he announced in a televised speech last Monday that Grenada should develop closer ties with Beijing and accused Taipei of neglecting his country.

Jiang said that although the prime minister did not say Grenada would cut ties with Taiwan, he obviously wanted closer relations with China.