https://www.scmp.com/rss/519459/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai Two countries that maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan sent delegations to a high-level forum in Beijing earlier this week, highlighting mainland China’s flexible approach to courting Taipei’s few remaining official partners, according to analysts. Representatives from Haiti and St Lucia, two Caribbean countries that are among Taiwan’s 12 formal allies, attended the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) Forum on Tuesday, raising concerns about growing diplomatic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3310714/beijing-flexible-courting-taiwan-allies-haiti-st-lucia-attend-mainland-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3310714/beijing-flexible-courting-taiwan-allies-haiti-st-lucia-attend-mainland-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 May 2025 06:00:15 +0000 Caribbean “golden passports” are getting more expensive, a response to pressure from the US and the European Union to crack down on citizenship sales. A group of four Caribbean nations has agreed to charge at least US$200,000 for their passports starting June 30, double the current rate in some cases. The countries will also close loopholes that allowed passports to be sold at a discount. Citizenship-by-investment, or CBI, programmes rake in more than US$579 million a year in the Caribbean and... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3257519/caribbean-golden-passports-cost-soars-us200000-amid-eu-crackdown-citizenship-investment-schemes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3257519/caribbean-golden-passports-cost-soars-us200000-amid-eu-crackdown-citizenship-investment-schemes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Apr 2024 04:10:11 +0000 China will support Jamaica to play a bigger role in world affairs, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has pledged, as the two countries aim to strengthen strategic alignment. The message from China’s top diplomat came as he wrapped up a six-nation tour with a visit to the Caribbean country. Meeting Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness in the capital Kingston on Saturday, Wang said China looked forward to expanding cooperation in trade, investment, new energy, agriculture, digital economy and the “blue... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3249235/chinese-foreign-minister-wang-yi-vows-help-jamaica-play-bigger-role-world-stage-hails-one-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3249235/chinese-foreign-minister-wang-yi-vows-help-jamaica-play-bigger-role-world-stage-hails-one-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jan 2024 11:00:13 +0000 Beijing’s promises of free-trade deals and infrastructure cooperation are likely to be a bigger lure for Taipei’s remaining diplomatic allies in Latin America than those in the Pacific, according to analysts. The assessment follows Honduran President Xiomara Castro’s red carpet treatment in Beijing last week, her first trip to the mainland China since her country switched diplomatic ties from Taipei in March. During their meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the “historic decisiveness”... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3224453/why-beijings-trade-deals-tempt-taipeis-allies-latin-america-not-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3224453/why-beijings-trade-deals-tempt-taipeis-allies-latin-america-not-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jun 2023 12:00:19 +0000 Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, Countess of Wessex, 57, is the daughter-in-law of the late Queen Elizabeth. With the rest of the world, Sophie mourns the passing of Her Majesty, whom she shared an incredibly close relationship with. She and her husband Prince Edward were recently spotted at Manchester, accepting flowers from mourners who gathered at St Ann’s Square. Per The Guardian, the Wessexes were very appreciative and expressed their thanks to those who came, taking their time to greet... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3192776/meet-queen-elizabeths-favourite-daughter-law-sophie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3192776/meet-queen-elizabeths-favourite-daughter-law-sophie?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:10:16 +0000 National identity might be an intangible sense that many people feel deep and dearly – but believe it or not, there are many countries where you can essentially buy a passport. And we’re not talking shady back room deals – it’s entirely legal, above board and government approved. Which raises the question, how much does it cost? Well, it can range from around US$100,000 from several Caribbean nations, up to an estimated US$9.5 million in Austria. These are the 11 countries with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3188292/golden-passports-11-countries-where-you-can-buy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3188292/golden-passports-11-countries-where-you-can-buy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:11:36 +0000 Britain’s Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Earl and Countess of Wessex, have been met with banners protesting against British colonialism on the second leg of their Caribbean tour. Edward and Sophie had initially received a friendly welcome on their visit to St Vincent and the Grenadines, but a group of around 15 protesters displayed placards as they made their way to Government House on the island on Saturday. Banners on show included “end to colonialism” and “#CompensationNow”. The protests... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3175324/british-royals-edward-and-sophie-continue-caribbean-tour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3175324/british-royals-edward-and-sophie-continue-caribbean-tour?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Apr 2022 20:13:31 +0000