Taiwan vents anger after losing another ally to China

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has voiced anger at Beijing’s “increasingly-out-of-control” behavior following El Salvador’s move to sever ties with her self-proclaimed government in favor of China.

According to Press TV, speaking in Taipei on Tuesday, Tsai said her government — now having diplomatic relations with only 17 countries — would not bow to pressure from China.

She made the remarks after El Salvador’s President Salvador Sanchez Ceren announced in a nationally-televised speech earlier that his government had broken off ties with Taipei and established relations with Beijing instead.

Almost all world countries recognize Chinese sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan.

Tsai blamed China for El Salvador’s move, saying it was further evidence of China’s efforts to squeeze Taipei.

“We will turn to countries with similar values to fight together against China’s increasingly out-of-control international behavior,” she said.

Taiwan claims that China buys off its increasingly dwindling diplomatic partners with generous aid packages.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu had said at a press conference earlier, “We are not willing to continue with the money competition with China.”

China, however, denies such allegations, saying Taiwan is historically part of its territory, with no right to formal diplomatic ties of its own with other countries.

Wu condemned what it called Beijing’s “crude actions,” saying, “Pressure from China would only make Taiwan more determined to continue our path of democracy and freedom.”

He claimed that the government in San Salvador had been continuously asking for “massive funding support” since last year for a port development, but Taipei had been unable to assist with the “unsuitable project” after an assessment.

Tsai recently wrapped up a visit to Latin America, during which she had two brief stopovers in the United States.

ME