Ma strongly dissatisfied over resumption of Gambia-China official ties
ROC Central News Agency
2016/03/17 23:03:16
Belize, March 17 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) expressed strong dissatisfaction Thursday over a decision by The Gambia and China to resume diplomatic ties two years after the African country severed relations with Taiwan.
'It occurred at a time which we see as very inappropriate, and we have to voice our strong dissatisfaction,' Ma told reporters before he went for his regular morning exercise, during a visit to the Central American country of Belize, one of Taiwan's 22 diplomatic allies.
Ma's remarks came after China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Gambia issued a joint statement earlier in the day, indicating that they had reestablished official relations after a suspension of 21 years.
The incident came amid a four-month power transition in Taiwan. President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will take office in May, when the China-friendly Ma will step down as he finishes his second four-year term.
Asked about the latest development, DPP spokesman Ruan Jhao-syong (阮昭雄) expressed hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will refrain from engaging in malicious competition in the international community.
After taking power, the DPP government will do its utmost to maintain ties with Taiwan's diplomatic allies and promote peace and prosperity in the region, Ruan said.
The Gambia maintained diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan) until 1974, when it broke off ties and established diplomatic ties with Beijing. The Gambia then severed diplomatic ties with China in 1995 and resumed official ties with Taiwan in that same year.
In November 2013, The Gambia unilaterally decided to break diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
(By Hsieh Chia-chen, Sophia Yeh and Elaine Hou)
ENDITEM/ke
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