Haiti’s foreign minister was one of two representatives from countries maintaining official ties with Taiwan that attended a forum yesterday in Beijing between China and Latin American and Caribbean nations, as Beijing ramps up its pressure campaign against Taiwan.
Of the 12 UN member nations that have formal relations with Taiwan, two — Haiti and Saint Lucia — joined the event, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
The flags of both were displayed in the main plenary hall at the venue in the Chinese capital, with Haiti represented by Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste and Saint Lucia by diplomat Peter Lansiquot.
Photo: AFP
Asked about the presence of the two countries, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian (林劍) said the forum is an important platform for “mutually beneficial cooperation” between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries.
“China has always welcomed and supported the participation of CELAC member states in the activities within the framework of the forum,” he told reporters, without elaborating.
Neither the Haitian nor the Saint Lucian embassies in Taiwan immediately responded to requests for comment, nor did the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Haiti and Saint Lucia are both members of CELAC.
Two diplomatic sources on condition of anonymity said China has previously had such interactions with Taiwan allies at the same event.
The flags of other CELAC members, who also have ties with Taiwan, such as Guatemala and Belize, were not seen in the room.
Honduras was the last regional nation to switch diplomatic ties to Beijing from Taipei, doing so in 2023.
Saint Lucia has had relations with Beijing before, and re-established ties with Taiwan in 2007, bucking the trend of countries switching to China.
Haiti’s relations with Taiwan date back to 1956.
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