As Beijing pushes increasingly to isolate Taipei with its ‘dollar diplomacy’, Taiwan could possibly lose another ally if the St Vincent opposition party (NDP) takes power in the next election due on the Southern Caribbean island in 2025.
Currently, Taiwan has diplomatic relations with St Vincent, St Lucia, St Kitts, and Haiti as its sole allies in the Eastern Caribbean region.
During a town hall meeting held in Canada on October 15, the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Godwin Friday, expressed that the longstanding bilateral connection formed with Taiwan in 1981 has shown to be mutually beneficial. However, the NDP has adopted the stance that this relationship is subject to reassessment.
“We, as a party, took a position with respect to that relationship, and we have said before and recently that all of those decisions are subject to review. Whenever we are in a position to have new information, you will understand that this is something that we are constantly doing”.
The opposition conveyed to the assembly of Vincentians residing in Canada that the matter at hand pertained to the welfare of the nation rather than personal loyalties.
“For us, it’s a question of what is in the greatest interest of our country. What is the greatest benefit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines? So that is what guides me, not a matter of saying what one friend is or another. The interests of the country come first”, Friday said.
One political observer told this publication that the opposition party is engaging in a strategy often known as the “Dragon Dance,” recognizing the preference of the people of St Vincent to maintain ties with Taiwan.
“The NDP cannot defer the declaration of their stance until assuming office, as this approach does not align with the strategic objective of garnering support for electoral victory. Consequently, they are endeavoring to deceive the voting population. Evidently, there statement implies their intention to go to Mainland China; nevertheless, they are unable to provide a comprehensive rationale due to potential repercussions with the voting population. Consequently, they employ a strategic maneuver known as the “Dragon Dance.”
The St Vincent Opposition Party has previously shown its inclination to shift its allegiance from Taiwan to mainland China. This inclination was initially expressed by former opposition leader Arnhim Eustace in 2016, when he declared that the NDP had made the choice to adhere to the internationally recognized “One China Policy” endorsed by the United Nations.
When queried by the media at that time regarding the potential advantages of the transition for St Vincent, the previous leader expressed a lack of comprehension towards the subject and proceeded to assert that the majority of nations worldwide have embraced the One China Policy.
In the year 2019, prior to the upcoming 2020 election in St Vincent, lawmakers in the Southeast Asian country engaged in deliberations over the potential scenario of St. Vincent and the Grenadines altering its diplomatic alignment to China. The current government maintained its authority, so ensuring the continuity of diplomatic relations.
In the year 2023, the opposition faced significant turmoil regarding the diplomatic relations between Taiwan and St Vincent. This occurred during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, April 4, when the Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, disclosed the opposition party’s intention to abandon Taiwan and align itself with the People’s Republic of China, adhering to its “One China Policy.”
In an interview with the Searchlight newspaper subsequent to the parliamentary session, the opposition leader affirmed that their existing stance remains unchanged. Furthermore, the leader explicitly stated that any assertions of shifting loyalty in response to evolving circumstances would solely originate from his position as the leader.
Andrea Clare Bowman, St Vincent’s Ambassador to Taiwan, told the UK Guardian newspaper earlier this year , “We’ve tethered our sovereignty to Taiwan.” “We’re saying we’re here for you,” “It’s a matter of principle; it’s respect for a country’s sovereignty that has chosen its way.”
Incentives from China do not always work. Bowman confirms that St Vincent and the Grenadines have received “approaches” from Beijing but refuses to elaborate and insists that the response is always no.
“All of this occurred at a time when you’d think this little country shouldn’t be ruffling feathers,” Bowman told the UK Guardian.
