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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Nov 2013 : 09:18:44
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Gambia severs diplomatic ties with Taiwan
BBC: Publæished Online on 15 November 2013
Gambia has announced that it has cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
President Yahya Jammeh's office said the move was for reasons of "national strategic interest".
The West African state was one of a few African countries to recognise Taiwan, which China regards as part of its territory.
Correspondents say it is unclear if the move is linked to the development of relations with China, which has a growing influence in Africa.
Despite the announcement, Mr Jammeh said Gambia hoped to "remain friends" with the Taiwanese people.
"This decision has been taken in our strategic national interest," a statement from his office read, without elaborating.
"We are proud that we have been a very strong and reliable partner of the Republic of China [Taiwan] for the past 18 years, the results of which are there for every Taiwanese to see.
"Despite the end of diplomatic ties with Taiwan, we will still remain friends with the people of Taiwan."
Taiwan said it was surprised by Gambia's decision.
"Our government express shock and regret that Gambian President Yahya Jammeh sent a letter to our embassy in Gambia on 14 November to inform us [of] the immediate termination of ties," Vice Foreign Minister Simon Ko said in Taipei.
"We think this is Jammeh's personal decision," he added.
China has been investing heavily in Africa at it relies on the continent for oil and other natural resources.
China and Taiwan split in 1949, when the Chinese Communist Party overthrew the Republic of China (ROC) and founded the People's Republic on the mainland, forcing the ROC government to retreat to Taiwan. Beijing says Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.
Initially, most African states recognised the Taipei government but their number has steadily declined.
Gambia's decision means that Swaziland, Sao Tome and Principe and Burkina Faso are the only African countries that remain allies with Taiwan.
However, earlier this week officials in Sao Tome and Principe said China plans to open a trade mission to promote projects there.
It comes 16 years after Beijing broke off relations with the tiny Central African nation over its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.
Related: Gambia's severance of diplomatic ties regrettable: MOFA (update)
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2013 : 09:44:25
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Gambia breaks off diplomatic ties with Taiwan
Gambia is the second African state to announce a change in its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan this week.
Aljazeera: Published on 15 Nov 2013 01:43
 Gambia's government will cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan with immediate effect, a statement from President Yahya Jammeh's office has said.
The small West African state was one of a few African countries, along with Burkina Faso and Swaziland, to recognise self-ruled Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province to be recovered by force if necessary.
"This decision has been taken in our strategic national interest. We are proud that we have been a very strong and reliable partner of the ROC (China) for the past 18 years, the results of which are there for every Taiwanese to see," the statement said on Thursday.
It said Gambia and Taiwan would remain friends.
Gambia is the second African state to announce a change in its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan this week.
Officials in the tiny island nation of Sao Tome and Principe said on Tuesday that China plans to open a trade mission to promote projects there.
The decision comes 16 years after China broke off relations over the tiny Central African nation's diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.
Sao Tome officials did not say whether the new cooperation deal with Beijing would affect diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Taiwan Foreign Minister David Lin told legislators in Taipei it seemed unlikely Sao Tome would switch recognition to China but added Taiwan will "review its existing assistance programmes for Sao Tome to see if any adjustment is necessary".
Sao Tome and Principe's economy is heavily dependent on cocoa exports but its position in the middle of the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea has raised interest in its potential as a possible future oil and gas producer.
China says Taiwan has no right to diplomatic recognition as it is part of China.
The two have been governed separately since the Communist Party won the Chinese civil war in 1949, and the Nationalists fled across a 180km-wide strait to Taiwan.
Source: Aljazeera |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 15 Nov 2013 : 16:13:55
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1.Gambia cuts diplomatic ties with Taiwan
The Point: Published on Friday, 15 November 2013
The Government of The Gambia yesterday announced that it is cutting diplomatic ties with the Republic of China on Taiwan, with effect from Thursday 14th November 2013.
In a statement issued by the presidency in Banjul, the Government said: ‘‘After a retrospect of our diplomatic relations with Taiwan for the past 18 years, the Gambia Government has come to the conclusion to review and disengage from diplomatic relations with Taiwan, with effect from today November 14, 2013.’’
‘‘This decision has been taken in our strategic national interest. We are proud that we have been a very strong and reliable partner of the ROC for the past 18 years, the results of which are there for every Taiwanese to see,’’ the government stated.
The Gambia government further stated that despite the end of diplomatic ties with Taiwan, ‘‘we will still remain friends with the people of Taiwan.’’
It would be recalled that in November 2010, the Government of the Gambia also announced its decision to cut diplomatic ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and ordered its diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.
Source: The Point News
2.Gambia severs ties with Taiwan
Daily Observer: Published on Friday, 15 November 2013
The government of The Gambia has announced Thursday evening that it was severing ties with the Republic of China, Taiwan, 18 years since it resumed diplomatic and political relations with the 23-million Asian-island nation.
“After a retrospect of our diplomatic relations with Taiwan for the past 18 years, The Gambia government has come to the conclusion to review and disengage from diplomatic relations with Taiwan with effect from today November 14, 2013,” the presidency announced in statement sent to the Daily Observer.
“This decision has been taken in our strategic national interest. We are proud that we have been a very strong and reliable partner of the ROC for the past 18 years, the results of which are there for every Taiwanese to see. Despite the end of diplomatic ties with Taiwan, we will still remain friends with the people of Taiwan,” it concludes
Source: Daily Observer News |
Edited by - kobo on 16 Nov 2013 09:18:44 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2013 : 19:10:19
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| Who tells Jammeh that he owns Gambia like toilet roll? |
Karamba |
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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2013 : 14:15:40
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Snubbed Taiwan breaks off ties with Gambia
TAIPEI: Taiwan said on Monday it had terminated diplomatic relations with Gambia, after the West African nation's move to cut ties shocked Taipei and left it with a dwindling number of foreign allies.
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh caught Taiwan unawares on Thursday when he said his government had broken off diplomatic ties after 18 years owing to "strategic national interest".
Expressing "shock and regret" at the decision, Taipei sent two senior diplomats to Gambia in an attempt to rescue the relationship, but their request to meet Jammeh was twice rejected, foreign ministry officials said.
"From Monday on, the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) terminated its diplomatic ties with Gambia, evacuated the embassy and agricultural technicians and suspended all cooperative projects," Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement.
Taiwan is now recognised by just 22 countries, mostly developing nations in Africa, Latin America and the Pacific.
The move by Gambia also leaves Taiwan with just three diplomatic allies in Africa -- Swaziland, Sao Tome and Principe, and Burkina Faso -- at a time when China is pumping billions of dollars into the continent.
China, which has growing investments and influence in Africa, swiftly denied it put pressure on Gambia, but said support for "the peaceful reunification of China is an irreversible trend".
China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said his country had learnt of Gambia's move from overseas media.
Taiwan has poured millions of dollars into the health, education, agriculture and infrastructure sectors of resource-poor Gambia, the smallest country on the African mainland.
Lingering hostilities remain between Taiwan and China following their split in 1949 at the end of a civil war, although tensions have eased since 2008 after President Ma Ying-jeou came to power. He was re-elected in January 2012.
The Ma administration claimed that the two sides have stopped engaging in a decades-long bitter diplomatic tug-of-war, luring away each other's allies with generous financial packages.
However, Taiwan's opposition have questioned the wisdom of the diplomatic truce with China.
Beijing still claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.
- AFP
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Kitabul Arerr
Gambia
645 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2013 : 19:08:20
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I hope Taiwan will spill the beans:) Long overdue, after giving a "Blind Eye and Deaf Ear" to corruption in the Gambia.
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The New Gambia - Stronger Together! |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2013 : 19:42:54
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Government-funded Gambian students can stay until end of semester
Taipei, Nov. 18 (CNA) Minister of Education Chiang Wei-ling said Monday that Gambian students on Taiwan government scholarships can stay until the end of the current semester despite the severance of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
A total of 276 Gambian students are studying in Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Education statistics. Among them, 175 are on scholarships provided by the Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or National Science Council.
Based on humanitarianism, Chiang said, Gambian students on government scholarships can continue their study until the end of this semester in January 2014.........
http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201311180035.aspx |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2013 : 12:37:33
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Recalling the beneficial Gambia-Taiwan relationship
By Nfamara Jawneh
The Point: Published on Monday, November 18, 2013
Prior to the surprised announcement by the Gambia government, on Thursday 14th November 2013, that it is cutting diplomatic ties with the Republic of China on Taiwan, the two countries enjoyed a fruitful and beneficial bilateral relationship to the admiration of almost every Gambian.
Unequivocally, The Gambia and Taiwan over the years have proven to be a sample of excellent bilateral ties.
This is manifested in the numerous forms of support being offered to The Gambia by the Taiwanese government, as well as The Gambia’s strong diplomatic support to Taiwan in the international arena, over the past 18 years.
The ROC has been one of the key donors to The Gambia, since resumption of diplomatic ties in 1995.
Since then, Taiwan has continued to provide funding in all vital areas of our economy such as agriculture, health, education, defence, infrastructure development and information technology.
For instance, the permanent Taiwanese Technical Mission stationed in Sapu has been working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to boost the country’s food self-sufficiency drive.
The mission, which also provides some of our local farmers with fertilizers, power tillers and seed nuts has, no doubt , helped boost the country’s agricultural sector with transfer of technology and high production yields for farmers.
In the area of health, Taiwan continues to support the sector with annual grant of $600,000 to Gambia’s health sector; provides equipment to health facilities, and sends in mobile medical teams to provide free medical care to Gambians, on a regular basis.
In fact, at the time of this surprised announcement, there were a group of seven medical doctors in the country providing free medical services to the Gambians.
The maternal health programme supported by Taiwan in the Upper River Region has helped improved the health status of women and children in that region.
With regard to education, currently there are over 200 Gambian students studying at various universities and colleges in Taiwan, thanks to the generosity of the Taiwanese government. Most of them are on a Taiwan government full scholarship, either through Taiwan ICDF, MOFA or other ROC institutions.
Several others have already graduated from Taiwanese universities, and are now working for the Gambia government in various sectors, contributing to our nation-building.
Annually, the ROC embassy also provides a $6000 scholarship package to the University of The Gambia to sponsor needy and deserving students.
An annual US$700,000 donation to the President’s Empowerment of Girls Education Project (PEGEP) has been forthcoming.
And the list could go on.
The construction of Sifoe and Mayork senior secondary schools by the Taiwanese government, also provides more Gambian students access to high school education in the West Coast Region.
On information technology, the recent establishment of Gambia Digital Opportunity Centre funded by Taiwan, the donation of computers and ICT accessories to the National Assembly and other government departments are all boosts to our Silicon Valley aspirations.
Most important, also, is Taiwan’s support to the Gambia Radio and Television Services satellite project.
Furthermore, the donation of seven patrol boats to the Gambia Navy and training of our military officers in military academies in Taiwan are all making an impact.
The establishment of Taiwan Culture Centre in Gambia and recent donation of US$1million to the Youth Development Fund and provision of MAN engines to the three ferries that are out of service are other rewarding interventions.
From our records, it was discovered that Taiwan has pump in millions of Dalasis for even events like the presidential inauguration; the building of an extra road around the President’s Office, rehabilitation of Old Police Line Barracks, procurement of vehicles and buses for local governments, fencing of Banjul international airport, supporting the upkeep of Cuban doctors and building oil reserve tanks for military barracks; and, again the list goes could on and on.
With these and many other interventions from Taiwan, in our view, the people of this country and government owe a huge debt of gratitude to the government and people of Taiwan, by all accounts.
In fact, Taiwan has become a household name in The Gambia, thanks to their support to the critical sectors f our economy.
And that was the reason why, we believe, the majority of Gambians will be suprised with the recent move by their government.
The leadership of the two countries has always expressed their resolve in maintaining and strengthening ties.
While covering the visit of Taiwan’s President Ma to The Gambia last year, this reporter could recall President Yahya Jammeh saying to him at Ming Daw Senior School that The Gambia will remain true friends of Taiwan and will do anything they want.
The Gambian leader has been quoted on many occasions as describing Taiwan as a true and genuine partner of The Gambia.
“Let me reiterate that The Gambia’s commitment to cementing the ties that bind our two nations and our resolve to stand steadfastly by your side in your quest to take your rightful place within the global community of nations will never wane”, President Jammeh pledged (see State House website).
President Ma once told the Gambian leader that: “One thing I admire about Your Excellency is the priority that you give to education, because the number of students that are studying in Taiwan exceeds 200.”
On the other hand, The Gambia has also been very supportive of Taiwan in its quest to have more space in the international arena.
The Government of The Gambia has also been relentless in its call for a just treatment of the case of Taiwan by the international community.
Consequently, last week’s u-turn by The Gambia Government stunned the people of this country, and the international community.
Source: The Point |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11712 Posts |
Posted - 28 Nov 2013 : 18:23:49
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Taiwan makes decision on Gambian students
By Nfamara Jawneh
The Point: Thursday, November 28, 2013
 The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has announced it has decided that all the Gambian students who received scholarship from both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ROC (Taiwan) and the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) will be allowed to complete the courses they applied for.
Meanwhile, according to information gathered by this paper yesterday, the self-financing students who are there on their own accord will not be affected by this new development.
However, those who are supported through the annual bilateral project can transfer to self-financing program on their own or come back after the current semester (students on special class programs).
ROC Government will provide the aforementioned students air tickets back to The Gambia unless those otherwise request early departure.
For those who can meet the requirements of getting a degree at the end of the 2013 calendar year, they can stay until the end of the second semester.
Source: The Point
Picture: Some Gambian students in Taiwan with then ROC Ambassador Richard Shih
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