China’s use of “checkbook diplomacy” to lure Nauru away as an ally of Taiwan was retaliation for Vice President William Lai (賴清德) winning Saturday’s presidential election, an official familiar with foreign affairs said yesterday.
However, Beijing’s actions were not an attack on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but against Taiwanese voting for democratic values, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Taiwan yesterday terminated diplomatic relations with the Republic of Nauru after the Pacific island nation announced earlier in the day that it would recognize the People’s Republic of China.
Photo: Chiang Ying-ying, AP
While many countries are congratulating Taiwan for the presidential and legislative elections, Beijing poached Taiwan’s ally in retaliation, demonstrating that it is heading in the opposite direction of the rest of the world, the official said.
Nauru severed diplomatic ties immediately after the elections because it is a small country with an unstable government, they said, adding that China has long seen the Oceanic nation as a target for checkbook diplomacy to deprive Taiwan of an ally.
Beijing clearly launched its diplomatic offensive because the DPP’s presidential candidate, Lai, won, signaling that its interference in the election was unsuccessful, they said.
As China was unable to respond to its inner political struggles, such as a declining economy, it opted to grab one of Taiwan’s ally to suppress Taipei’s diplomatic efforts, they added.
How do Chinese, who need economic assistance, feel when they see their government spending lots of money on “buying Taiwan’s allies,” the official asked.
Beijing has often failed to keep its promise when engaging in checkbook diplomacy, pushing the recipient country into debt, they said, adding that China promised to purchase shrimp from Honduras after it broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan last year, but it did not purchase much, which led many people to lose their jobs.
Taiwan’s road toward the world is clear and it cannot compete with China on checkbook diplomacy, so Beijing should consider the implications of Saturday’s elections, they said.
Not only does it not benefit cross-strait relations to take away an ally of Taiwan, but it also further isolates China, which is gradually becoming marginalized in the global economy and in global politics, they said.
Beijing’s action also shows Taiwanese to see more clearly the difference between their own democracy and China’s autocracy, and it pushes Taiwanese further away, they added.
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