African nation cuts Taipei ties

One of Taiwan’s three African allies cut its “diplomatic ties” with the island, and observers predicted more such defeats if Taiwan continues to challenge the one-China principle.

The African island nation of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe announced on Tuesday that it had broken its “diplomatic ties” with Taiwan.

Currently, 21 countries and governments, mainly small nations and islands in Latin America, Oceania and Africa, rely heavily on economic aid from Taiwan and hold such ties with the island.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Wednesday that China welcomed the decision by Sao Tome and Principe, since the one-China policy is widely recognized around the world.

China praised the move and welcomed the African country to “return to the right track of the one-China principle”, she said, adding that the principle is related to China’s core interests and is the political foundation for China’s friendly ties with other countries.

Sao Tome and Principe, which achieved independence from Portugal in 1975, is the second-smallest African country after Seychelles. The nation established a diplomatic relationship with China in July 1975, but Beijing cut the relationship in 1997 after the African island country announced that it would establish “diplomatic ties” with Taipei.

In Washington on Wednesday, State Department spokesman John Kirby said the US has a deep and abiding interest in cross-Straits stability. “We believe that dialogue between the two sides has enabled peace, stability, and development in recent years,” he said. “We urge all concerned parties to engage in a productive dialogue that supports crossStraits stability and to avoid destabilizing moves, but obviously, this is a decision that Sao Tome and Principe have to speak to,” Kirby told the daily briefing.

Asked by Taiwan reporters whether the new situation is a change of status quo and a move by the Chinese mainland