Taiwan to hold summit with African allies

Leaders from Taiwan’s five diplomatic allies in Africa — Burkina Faso, Gambia, Malawi, Sao Tome and Principe and Swaziland — will attend the summit on September 9 in Taipei.

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian and his African counterparts “will discuss issues of mutual concern,” his office said in a statement.

“Taiwan must adopt forward-looking concepts in its diplomatic efforts in the light of China’s rise,” it said.

“China’s diplomatic work is based on strategic ambitions and its own interests, while Taiwan is willing to help solve the problems in African countries with a more sincere approach.”

Africa, Latin America, and the South Pacific are the main diplomatic battlegrounds for Taiwan and China, which have accused each other of luring allies away with “chequebook diplomacy.”

Last year Taipei suffered its latest setback in Africa when Chad switched recognition to Beijing, leaving the island with only five allies in the region.

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