Strengthening relations in turbulent times

The visit of a Vincentian government delegation led by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves to the Republic of China on Taiwan would, in normal times, not attract much international attention, despite its importance to our country.

Unfortunately, these days are anything but “normal” given the real threat of a global conflagration arising from the Russian/Ukraine conflict and its wide-ranging impact even on countries like ours, thousands of kilometres away from the military confrontation.

In fact, as real as the threat of escalation on a global scale continues to be, it is in economic and social terms that what has turned out to be today’s major threat to world peace is affecting the working and poor peoples of the world. Yet it is in times like these that the level of solidarity in international relations becomes tested and leaders are expected to demonstrate their maturity in straddling the thin lines of international relations.

Our country has enjoyed fruitful relations with Taiwan for four decades now. At the time that we embarked on such a relationship, the level of anti-communist sentiment in the world, including against what was called “Red China” was such that but for leftist political organizations, our country was expected to show by its diplomatic relations what side of the ideological fence it stood. Even though we were small and vulnerable, standing up against communism was considered to be prudent policy.

Much has changed since then and today the once “pariahs” of international relations, “Red China”, now occupies a seat on the permanent Council of the United Nations Security Council but also sits punto punto in the veto-power decision-making body of the United Nations. It has caused some to take an opportunist approach to the China/Taiwan conflict.

Yet to its credit, when opponents normally ideologically opposed, have now not only embraced the Peoples Republic of China, inclusive of championing relations with the PRC, but are critical of those who continue, in the western tradition, to maintain relations with Taiwan.

The recent visit to Taiwan by the Gonsalves delegation would therefore naturally attract a lot of flak, some of course fuelled by political opportunism. But in Taiwan it is viewed very differently by a country threatened militarily by its powerful neighbour and “kith and kin”.

In itself the call for an end to what is called “sabre-rattling” would be welcome but it is construed in some quarters as indicating support for Taiwan and even, in extremist terms, as an attempt to curry favour.

But our relations with Taiwan have withstood local political and ideological differences. They rest on a solid basis and we can only urge and hope that we never allow ourselves to be dragged into any such conflict. Let us always remember that we remain firm friends
of the USA while enjoying warm relations with Cuba. Friends of all and enemies of none while taking principled stands must be our lodestar.