Angry Taiwan threatens rethink of cross-strait relations as Panama switches ties to Beijing
Island accuses the mainland of stoking confrontation and lashes out at ‘chequebook diplomacy’
An indignant Taiwan said on Tuesday it would rethink its relations with the mainland in the wake of Panama’s decision to cut diplomatic ties with the island in favour of Beijing.
“The move by the Beijing authorities is not only wrong but also affects the current situation, turning the peaceful development of cross-strait relations into confrontation. For this, the government will reappraise the situation of the ties across the Taiwan Strait ,” said Joseph Wu, secretary general of the presidential office.
The decision by Panama ends 105 years of formal relations between it and the Republic of China, the official name Taiwan uses for itself. Beijing sees the island as a renegade province that must be brought back under its control.
As a responsible power in the region, Wu said that Beijing should stop taking actions that hurt cross-strait stability and the feelings of the Taiwanese people.