Delegation sent to cement ties with Caribbean allies

The delegation, led by former premier Su Tseng-chang, will leave on Sunday to visit St Lucia, St Vincent, St Christopher and Nevis.

The main task of the delegation is to attend the funeral of St Lucia’s Prime Minister John Compton who died of illness on September 7 at the age of 82. Su Tseng-chang will attend the funeral as President Chen’s envoy.

St Lucia launched diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1984, but dropped Taiwan to recognize China in 1997. It resumed ties with Taiwan on April 30, 2007 following the return to power by Compton’s opposition United Workers’ Party in December 2006.

Compton soon fell ill and was hospitalized, handing over power to his deputies and triggering speculation that Compton’s rivals were plotting to cancel his decision to recognize Taiwan and wanted to restore ties with China.

The Caribbean island state, with a total area of 616 square kilometers and a population of 170,000, is now led by Acting Prime Minister Stephenson King.

Small as it is, St Lucia is the latest flashpoint in the diplomatic war between Taiwan and China.

Although St Lucia has severed ties with China, Beijing still hopes to win it back from Taiwan.

On September 7, Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi said China would provide 4 billion yuan (530 million US dollars) loans over three years to Chinese firms investing in the Caribbean.

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