Taiwanese diplomats in Gambia to rescue ties

Taiwan has sent senior diplomats to the Gambia in a last-ditch effort to restore diplomatic relations after they were unilaterally broken off by the West African nation, officials said yesterday.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Kao said officials including Richard Shih, the island's ambassador to the Gambia from 2008 to 2011, had arrived in Banjul.

She declined to provide further details, but media reports said that since the Taiwanese officials had not been denied entry and were in contact with their Gambian foreign ministry counterparts, Taiwan's foreign ministry believes that the Gambian government "has not shut the door to negotiations".

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh announced on Thursday that "in strategic national interest" his government had broken off diplomatic ties with Taiwan after 18 years, catching Taipei unprepared.

While Taipei expressed "shock and regret", the surprise decision has prompted speculation about Jammeh's motive.

Beijing, which has growing investments and influence in Africa, has denied it put pressure on the Gambia, although it did say that support for "the peaceful reunification of China is an irreversible trend".