China and El Salvador establish relations
BeijiNG: China and El Salvador established diplomatic relations as the Central American nation ditched Taiwan in yet another victory for Beijing in its campaign to isolate the island.
Beijing has been using its economic clout to peel away international support for the democratically-ruled island, leaving it with only 17 diplomatic allies around the world.
Speaking in Beijing at the Diaoyutai Guest House yesterday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised El Salvador’s decision to “recognise there is one China in the world”.
“This further goes to show the One China policy is in line with international norms, is the correct choice ... and is the basis of China’s relation with any country,” he said.
Salvadoran Foreign Minister Carlos Castaneda, after signing a document with Wang establishing relations, said his country had made a “strategic decision” and taken the “correct and beneficial path for the people of both nations”.
The president of El Salvador, Salvador Sanchez Ceren, said in an address on national television on Monday night: “We are convinced that this is a step in the right direction, which corresponds to the principles of international law, international relations and the inevitable trends of our day.”
The announcement in Beijing followed a decision by Taiwan to sever its ties with El Salvador after it learnt the country was planning on recognising Beijing.
“Losing (a) diplomatic ally is not an isolated incident. It is part of China’s string of sabre rattling and intimidation,” Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said at a press conference in Taipei.
The news came just after Tsai, who is trying to raise Taiwan’s international profile, wrapped up a Latin American tour which included stops in the United States, which drew criticism from China.
She visited allies Belize and Paraguay during the trip.
Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu said Taipei “will not engage in dollar diplomacy with China”, adding that El Salvador had been asking for “huge funding” for a port development project, which Taiwan was unwilling to give because it would leave both countries in debt.
El Salvador’s move leaves Taiwan with a dwindling number of allies around the world as more countries switch recognition to China, which sees the self-ruling democratic island as a renegade part of its territory.
“El Salvador has made the choice to commit itself to one China with no pre-conditions, thus standing with most countries in the world,” Wang said in comments that seemed intended to pre-empt Taiwanese accusations that China had bought the small Latin American nation’s loyalty.
But, he added, the country “will get tangible gains from its partnership with China”.
Relations between Taipei and Beijing have worsened since Tsai came to power as her government refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of “one China”.