Leader of Guatemala, one of Taiwan’s last diplomatic allies, urges international respect
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The president of Guatemala appealed to other governments to respect Taiwan’s sovereignty during an official visit Tuesday at a time when China is stepping up efforts to isolate the self-ruled island that it claims as its own territory.
President Alejandro Giammattei’s government is one of a dwindling number that have official relations with Taipei instead of Beijing. Legislators from the U.S. and Europe have visited to show support in the face of Beijing’s attempts to intimidate the island, but their governments have official relations with China, not Taiwan.
Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war. Taiwan never has been part of the People’s Republic of China, but the the ruling Communist Party in Beijing says the island is obliged to unite with the mainland — forcibly, if necessary.
“I would like to appeal to the international community and the free world that we should strive to respect Taiwan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Giammattei said in a speech to Taiwan’s legislature. He expressed “rock-solid friendship” with Taiwan.
Giammattei said his visit was a “demonstration of our firm support for your country and our commitment to defending our sovereignty and territorial integrity, and our firm opposition to foreign aggression.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s government has flown fighter jets and bombers near Taiwan in increasing numbers and fired missiles into the sea in an attempt to intimidate the island.
A visit to California by the current president of Taiwan and a trip to China by her predecessor encapsulate the choices facing the self-ruled island.
The number of governments that deal with Taiwan as a national government is shrinking as Beijing and Taipei compete for recognition from small, mostly poor countries in Africa, Latin America and the South Pacific with infusions of aid and investment.
The U.S. and all European governments except tiny Vatican City have no official relations with Taiwan, a center of the high-tech industry and one of the biggest global traders, but maintain extensive commercial and informal ties.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited Guatemala and Belize this month on a tour aimed at shoring up relations with the handful of governments that recognize Taiwan. In Guatemala, Tsai visited a rural hospital built with a donation from Taiwan.
Earlier, Honduras announced that it was switching recognition to Beijing following the announcement that a Chinese company would build a $300-million hydroelectric dam project in central Honduras.
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