Beijing’s warning to Guyana causes it to quickly rebuff Taiwan and reject plan for new diplomatic office

Guyana receives clear signal from Beijing before citing ‘miscommunication’ with Taipei and terminating agreement

Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang blames ruling DPP for poorly executing plan to set up office in Georgetown

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Taiwan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou shows a map of Guyana at a press conference on Thursday. Photo: AP Photo

Published: 2:00pm, 5 Feb 2021Updated: 10:08pm, 5 Feb 2021

Taiwan’s effort to raise its international profile with the support of the United States has been seriously disrupted with Guyana abruptly calling off a plan for the island to open a diplomatic office, less than a day after Taipei said it had signed an agreement with the South American country.

In what was at first perceived as a win for Taiwan in its diplomatic tussle with Beijing, the island’s foreign ministry announced on Thursday it had signed an agreement with Guyana to open a Taiwan office which would serve as a de facto embassy.

But hours later, Guyana’s foreign ministry said it was terminating the agreement following a warning from Beijing, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to reunify it.

“The government has not established any diplomatic ties or relations with Taiwan and, as a result of the miscommunication of the agreement signed, this agreement has since been terminated,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The government of Guyana wishes to clarify that it continues to adhere to the one-China policy and its diplomatic relations remain intact with the People’s Republic of China,” it said.

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