During President Chen Shui-bian’s (³¯¤ô«ó) recent trip to Latin America to attend the inauguration of Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom, Zelaya reiterated his support for Taiwan and promised to push for closer Taiwan-Honduras ties during his remaining two years in office, Yeh said. In other developments, the ministry declined to comment on speculation of possible Taiwan-Barbados ties, except to say Taiwan seeks to establish relations with any country that upholds democratic values and recognizes its sovereignty.
Talk of Barbados switching allegiance from Beijing to Taipei came after the Caribbean nation elected Taiwan-friendly candidate David Thompson as its new Prime Minister last week. During Thompson’s campaign, he promised to break 30-year ties with China once he entered office.
Thompson’s rival, outgoing Prime Minister Arthur Owen, has accused Taiwan of meddling in the election by providing a large cash donation to Thompson’s Democratic Labour Party (DLP). Owen and his Barbados Labour Party said that Barbados’ intelligence services had reported that there had been frequent contact between the DLP and Taipei, via St. Kitts, and said that the campaign finance came after Thompson made his promise to switch diplomatic ties.
Taiwan has categorically denied the accusations.
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St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas (l)and newly-appointed Taiwanese Ambassador Mr John K. Liu
During the recent political campaign in Barbados, the accusation was leveled by the former Prime Minister Owen Arthur that some deal was cut between the then Opposition Leader David Thompson and the government of Taiwan to assist with DLP campaign financing. Arthur produced information which sought to connect recent travel arrangements with a Thompson confidant, Mr. Leroy Parris to St. Kitts, and clandestine meetings with Taiwanese officials. The gist of the accusation alleged that a DLP government would establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan at the expense of China. The end result of the accusations was that Barbadians did not see it as a key issue in the election.
Less than a week after the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) won the government of Barbados the story has resurfaced. In today’s Taipei News reference has again been made to friendly relations which exist between Prime Minister David Thompson and the Taiwan government. We expect that after the Thompson cabinet is sworn in on Monday, the first order of business for the new Minister of Foreign Affairs is to clarify this issue. We will be listening very carefully to the response and any subsequent mouthings from the new government on this matter.
There is some smoke here, but will we see fire?
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