POLITICS: China Wins Diplomatic War, Pushes Taiwan Out of Liberia

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Abdullah Dukuly

MONROVIA, Oct 14 2003 (IPS) - The eve of the inauguration of a power-sharing government in strife-torn Liberia has seen a dramatic shift in the West Africa nation’s relation with the Chinas.

Until the weekend, Liberia had recognised Taiwan as a sovereign state, expelling Taipei’s arch-rival, Beijing. Taiwan was a close ally of former president Charles Taylor, who went into exile in Nigeria in August as part of a peace deal to end one of Africa’s most brutal wars.

But the Taiwanese-Liberian ties loosened up Saturday when Liberia resumed diplomatic relations with mainland China.

At a ceremony in the capital, Monrovia, attended by top UN, African Union (AU) and West African officials, the two countries signed a communique in which Liberia agreed to recognise the government in Beijing as "the sole legal representative of China, including Taiwan".

In response, China gave its commitment to support Liberia’s sovereignty and to help develop its economy.

With such a diplomatic switch, political analysts said Liberia and Taiwan now have one week to close their embassies in each other’s countries.

UN officials told IPS Monday that Liberia’s resumption of diplomatic relations with China "now paves the way for China’s contribution to Liberia’s reconstruction".

Beijing undertook several health, sports and road reconstruction projects when it had cordial ties with Monrovia two decades ago. But the projects were abruptly abandoned and Beijing left Monrovia after Liberia’s slain president Samuel Doe announced the resumption of diplomatic links to Taiwan following a 10-year rupture.

Liberia’s warlords and politicians have clashed over policy issues since the outbreak of the 14-year war in 1998.

Media reports suggested that Taiwan gave over one million U.S. dollars to Taylor in 1996 to promote his war efforts.

After assuming power in an election in 1997, war-lord-turned president Taylor later announced the resumption of ties with Taiwan which later provided considerable sums of money to his government.

Analysts said Beijing – a member of the UN Security Council – became angry and retaliated by vetoing a resolution authorising development aid to Liberia.

Then a rival warlord Alhaji Kromah visited Beijing and returned to Monrovia with assurances of aid to the country.

Taylor too paid a similar but parallel visit to Taipei and returned home with pledges of millions of dollars worth of aid.

Taiwan was a leading partner of the Taylor-led government. It undertook several agricultural projects and imported thousands of tonnes of the nation’s staple, rice. Taipei also gave one million dollars for the refurbishing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and provided equipment and funds for the capital’s power supply.

Opinion on the resumption of Liberia’s relations with China is unanimous. "We welcome the move and it comes as a new government is set to steer the affairs of the state. We believe that this will accelerate development programmes of the country," said a former government minister.

"The return of mainland China to Liberia will go a long way in alleviating our social and economic problems," businessman Bobby Tarnue told IPS.

The latest development reduces to 26 the number of countries – mostly in Latin America and Africa – recognising Taiwan, which Beijing considers as a renegade province and part of its territory.

Taipei and Beijing split amid civil war in 1949.