Taiwan announced last night that it would end diplomatic ties with Senegal, leaving only 25 allies.
The announcement came shortly after news of a resumption of ties between Senegal and China was made public earlier yesterday evening when Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan (唐家璇) met Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio in Beijing.
"In a bid to upheld Taiwan's national dignity ... we have decided to sever Taiwan's official ties with Senegal," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍) said last night during a press conference.
All aid to Senegal has also been stopped, Lu added, citing a written statement by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade to President Chen Shui-bian (
A joint Senegal-China statement released after Tang met Gadio in Beijing said, "The government of Senegal recognizes that there is only one China in the world."
On Oct. 11, Government Information Office Minister Pasuya Yao (姚文智) signed an exchange agreement with his Senegalese counterpart, apparently oblivious to the pending severing of ties.
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