My Take | Diplomatic disputes hide pettiness and savagery
- Despite some similarities, Taiwan’s dispute with mainland China and Nicaragua over its former assets is a storm in teacup, whereas the case of the Venezuelan state-owned gold in Britain cuts to the heart of the US-led sanctions that have caused untold sufferings for ordinary people in that country
For once, Taiwan stands alone against Washington’s favourite bêtes noires, China and Nicaragua, without Uncle Sam coming to its aid. The island has accused Nicaragua of defying international laws and protocols by confiscating its former embassy compound and other assets, and then handing them over to mainland China after switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
Ordinarily, you can expect the United States and its faithful allies such as Britain to join the fray and denounce the “theft”. However, Britain has been using the same playbook as Managua, except on a much grander scale. To come to Taipei’s rescue now would invite international ridicule.
The British government wants to hand over the state assets to Juan Guaido, whom London and Washington continue to recognise as the true head of state of Venezuela against current socialist President Nicolas Maduro following an election and its disputed results in 2018-19. This is despite the dwindling number of countries that still recognise Guaido. Since the start of this year, the European Union no longer recognises him.
Britain’s highest court ruled that it was bound by the “one voice principle”, according to which the executive branch has sole prerogative to recognise foreign heads of state.
Of course, Managua could argue the same based on the one-China principle by which it has switched recognition to the central government in Beijing. By right and law then, the former assets of Taiwan in Nicaragua now belong to mainland China, regardless of Taipei’s previous arrangement to donate them to the Catholic Church in the country.
