Short-Run Diplomacy？ Agreement for Taiwan Office in Guyana Terminated After A Day
United Daily News, February 11, 2021
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced on February 4 the establishment of a “Taiwan Office” in Guyana, emphasizing that it enjoys official political status. Legislators affiliated with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) even called it a diplomatic breakthrough. Within less than 24 hours, however, Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced that Guyana adhered to the "One China" policy and terminated its agreement with Taiwan. On behalf of Taiwan, MOFA expressed its regret, while the ruling DPP criticized China for pressuring Taiwan's diplomacy. The opposition Kuomintang appealed to the mainland not to suppress Taiwan's international space but criticized the administration for engaging in “short-run” diplomacy.
President Tsai Ing-wen said that challenges are always there in diplomacy, but the people of Taiwan will not bow to adversity. She vows to unite the country in order to win the support of the international community and showcase the achievements of Taiwan to the world.
According to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana adheres to the one China policy and its diplomatic relations with China remains intact. Guyana has not established any diplomatic ties with Taiwan and as a result of the miscommunication of the agreement signed, this agreement has since been terminated.
On February 4, Guyana Foreign Minister Hugh Todd said that Taiwan Office is only meant for the promotion of investment by Taiwanese enterprises, for Guyana does not recognize Taiwan as an independent country. MOFA Spokeswoman Joanne Ou emphasized, however, that the “Taiwan Office” enjoys "official status." The differences in public statement from either side is obvious. No wonder the deal came off in one day.
According to Taiwan’s understanding, after Taiwan announced the news of the agreement, mainland Chinese diplomat entered Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and talked for a few hours. After that Guyana released the statement to terminate the Taiwan Office. Guyana Foreign Minister Hugh Todd then posted in his Facebook a photo with mainland Chinese diplomat Chen Xilai.
On Facebook, Todd stated that he was told by Chen about China’s approval of a donation of 20,000 coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to Guyana. Todd thanked Chen and praised the fact that China has helped Guyana a lot since the establishment of diplomatic ties. Taiwan’s interpretation, however, is that through vaccine diplomacy, China pressured Guyana to withdrew agreement with Taiwan.
Dale Jieh, former representative to New Zealand, commented that, for decades, Taiwan has been setting up representative offices in countries which do not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Never has such abrupt collapse of the agreement in a day occurred. What are the reasons? Is it a government cover-up? Someone should be responsible! Furthermore, Taiwan has set up more than 100 offices over the world. How come the establishment of Taiwan office in Guyana became a "diplomatic breakthrough?"
Chen Chien-jen, former minister of Foreign Affairs, said that first and foremost in diplomacy is to understand what your national interests are. This event might have something to do with DPP's excessive focus on domestic propaganda. Chen questioned: In the past, mainland China does not regard Taiwan's economic relations with its diplomatic allies as violation of "one China." So Taiwan's emphasis on the official nature of Taiwan Office might have led China to take action.