Gambian foreign minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye (left) signs a communiqué with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi resuming ties in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Xinhua

Gambia and Beijing rekindle ties, Taipei expresses regret at shift of allegiance

Published: 10:00pm, 17 Mar 2016

China announced on Thursday it had formally resumed diplomatic ties with Gambia, a former ally of Taipei.

The announcement was made after a meeting in Beijing between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Gambian counterpart Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on its website.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry immediately expressed regret at Gambia’s shift of diplomatic allegiance. “Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation and friendship with its diplomatic allies,” the ministry said.

Gambia severed diplomatic ties with Taipei in 2013, saying the decision was taken in its “strategic national interest”.

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The African country now recognises that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory” and that there is only one China, which is represented by the government of the People’s Republic of China, according to a communiqué signed on Thursday.

For decades, Beijing has sought to isolate Taipei in the international arena.

Taiwan now has diplomatic ties with 22 countries. Above, the Presidential Office Building in Taipei. Photo: EPA

The island now has diplomatic ties with 22 countries, down from a peak of 29 in 1996. Most of these are in Latin America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. In Africa, where Beijing has maintained significant influence through trade and investment, only three countries still recognise Taiwan.

READ MORE: Taiwan on diplomatic eggshells with three remaining African allies

Wang described the resumption of diplomatic ties as a “historic moment” for the two countries, Xinhua reported. He stressed the “one-China” policy was a political precondition and foundation for China to establish and develop diplomatic relations with other countries.

“We believe that the Gambian government will strictly adhere to the one-China policy and support China’s undertakings for peaceful unification,” Wang said.

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