Guyanese line up to vote in the presidential election in the capital, Georgetown. (March 20, 2020)
Taiwan‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces that it has established a Taiwan office in the South American country of Guyana. The U.S. government “welcomes” and “applauds” the “landmark” agreement.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced on February 4, Taipei Time that Taiwan’s MFA and Guyana (known as Guyana in Taiwan) have reached a consensus to establish a “Taiwan Office” in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Taiwan Office has been “in initial operation” since January 15. Taipei also said that if Guyana “also decides to establish an office of the same status in Taiwan in the future, it will establish an office in accordance with the principle of reciprocity and reciprocity of this agreement and enjoy the same conditions and treatment as Taiwan’s office.
Guyana and Taiwan have not previously had a reciprocal representation.
The Biden administration immediately “welcomed” and “applauded” the agreement.
The U.S. Embassy in Guyana issued a statement on Feb. 3, local time, “applauding” the agreement between Taiwan and Guyana.
The U.S. Embassy statement said, “Deepening ties between Guyana and Taiwan will advance their shared goals of prosperity and security. Increased ties with Taiwan will advance cooperation and development in Guyana based on shared democratic values, transparency and mutual respect.”
Julie Chung, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, retweeted the U.S. Embassy’s statement and said, “The United States welcomes the establishment of a Taiwan office in Guyana, which will strengthen the growing relationship.”
She said, “This milestone will benefit both partners and advance security, democratic values and prosperity in the region.”
No reaction from Beijing has been seen yet.
Guyana established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1972, and China has an embassy in its capital, Georgetown. According to the Chinese Communist Party‘s Foreign Ministry, “In recent years, the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have developed smoothly, with constant high-level exchanges and good cooperation in international affairs.”
Guyana, which borders Venezuela and has a territorial dispute, is the second poorest country in South America, but its huge oil reserves could make it the richest country on the continent.
The South American country joined Beijing’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative in July 2018, when Chinese and Guyanese officials signed a memorandum in the presence of then-President David Granger.
Last March, elections were held in newly oil-discovered Guyana, and the counting process was controversial. Granger refused to relinquish his presidential powers after a preliminary recount by the Guyana Elections Commission showed opposition leader Ali in the lead. Then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had called on Granger last July to step aside and impose visa restrictions on individuals who undermine Guyana’s democracy. Ali was sworn in as president on Aug. 2.
Pompeo visited Guyana and another small South American country, Suriname, in September, becoming the first U.S. secretary of state in history to visit both countries. During his visit, Pompeo urged South American countries to be wary of the influence of China’s Communist Party.
Last March, then-President Trump signed the Taiwan Allies International Security and Enhancement Initiative Act of 2019 (the Taipei Act), which was passed unanimously by both Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate, advocating that the U.S. government should strengthen Taiwan’s foreign relations, support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and enhance U.S.-Taiwan trade relations.
President Biden’s Secretary of State Blinken also emphasized the United States’ nonpartisan commitment to Taiwan’s security.
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