NDP to ditch Taiwan for mainland China – Eustace

If elected to Government, the New Democratic Party (NDP) will adopt the ‘One China Policy’ and cut ties with Taiwan.

The announcement that the NDP will transfer this country’s diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing came Tuesday, during an address by the president of the party Arnhim Eustace, at NDP headquarters.

Eustace stated that the change in his party’s foreign policy is in keeping with their mission and responsibility {{more}}as a “mature public service institution, dedicated to good governance and national development.”

The Opposition Leader stated that after monitoring important world events for their potential effect on St Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) and the wider Caribbean region, they have made the decision to the adopt the ‘One China Policy’.

He noted that in the NDP’s 2015 manifesto, the party had promised to make adjustments to their diplomatic missions overseas to include “a strong component for trade and investment promotion, as distinct from the normal consular functions.

“In this regard, fully cognizant of the ever evolving symmetry of international affairs, and the principal responsibility and obligation of our party, in or out of government, to diligently pursue and protect the best strategic interests of our country, I hereby formally announce that the New Democratic Party of St Vincent and the Grenadines, as of today’s date August 23rd, 2016, has taken the decision to recognize the United Nations accepted norm of a One China Policy. Our party, under my leadership, has evolved to the world view that is embraced by almost every country in this region, and indeed the world.

“The One China Policy will be a key international relations platform of our party, and we will move to change from The Province to Beijing when we form the next Government shortly,” Eustace said.

He noted that People’s Republic of China is a crucial member of the Caribbean Development Bank, whose funds have benefited SVG in the past and that of the 16 member countries of CARICOM, SVG is one of only four countries that have not accepted the One China Policy.

“Our international relations stance is in keeping with all of our traditional friends – the United States, Canada, Europe and most of Latin America.

“The People’s Republic of China is indeed a major international player and the New Democratic Party looks forward to close relations with its party and government,” he said.

The foreign policy shift by the NDP has taken many by surprise, since in the NDP’s manifesto for the December 2015 general elections, it was stated that the NDP would continue their recognition of Taiwan.

Even more recently, at a luncheon held in May to recognize the inauguration of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, the Opposition Leader said both political parties in St Vincent and the Grenadines are “at one” in their support of Taiwan.

“If it’s one thing we do not quarrel about, is Taiwan. We’ve gone through 35 years of mutual support, and I believe there’s no other mission here that has the same type of genuine relationship with our population as we have with Taiwan,” Eustace said then.(CM)