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China suffers rare diplomatic setback with Taiwan
Beijing, Nov 08: China has suffered a diplomatic setback with the Central Pacific nation of Kiribati switching sides from Beijing to Taipei, media reports said today.
Beijing, Nov 08: China has suffered a diplomatic setback with the Central Pacific nation of Kiribati switching sides from Beijing to Taipei, media reports said today.
Following Kiribati's decision, Chinese ambassador there, Ma Shuxue yesterday made solemn representations with the Government of Kiribati over its decision to establish so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan, Xinhua news agency reported.
Kiribati's move to establish so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan totally violates the relevant principles enshrined in the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kiribati, signed on June 25, 1980, ma was quoted as saying. The Chinese government demanded the Government of Kiribati take into consideration the fundamental interests of the two peoples and redress this mistake immediately by repealing the decision to establish so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan, he said.
The switch by Kiribati, which hosts a key satellite tracking facility for China's space programme, is the first major foreign policy move of new President Anote Tong, media reports said. Kiribati is the 27th country to recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state.
Bureau Report
Kiribati's move to establish so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan totally violates the relevant principles enshrined in the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kiribati, signed on June 25, 1980, ma was quoted as saying. The Chinese government demanded the Government of Kiribati take into consideration the fundamental interests of the two peoples and redress this mistake immediately by repealing the decision to establish so-called "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan, he said.
The switch by Kiribati, which hosts a key satellite tracking facility for China's space programme, is the first major foreign policy move of new President Anote Tong, media reports said. Kiribati is the 27th country to recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state.
Bureau Report