São Tomé and Príncipe–Taiwan relations

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São Tomé and Príncipe–Taiwan relations
Map indicating locations of São Tomé and Príncipe and Republic of China

São Tomé and Príncipe

Republic of China
Former Embassy of the Republic of China in São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe–Taiwan relations are relations between São Tomé and Príncipe and Taiwan (officially the Republic of China or ROC). Official bilateral relations began in 1997 and ended in 2016.

History

São Tomé and Príncipe declared independence from Portugal on 12 July 1975 and recognized the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the same day.[1][2]

Bilateral relations between São Tomé and Príncipe and the Republic of China were first established on 6 May 1997.[3][4] In accordance with the One-China policy, the PRC suspended relations with São Tomé and Príncipe on 11 July 1997.[2] In February 1998, ROC Foreign Minister Jason Hu made an official visit to São Tomé and Príncipe. São Tomé and Príncipe President Miguel Trovoada visited Taiwan in June of that year.[5][6] São Tomé granted Taiwan landing visa privileges in 2012.[7] In 2013, the PRC established a trade office in São Tomé,[8] and the next year President Manuel Pinto da Costa visited China in a private capacity.[9] Bilateral relations between São Tomé and Príncipe and the Republic of China were terminated on 21 December 2016 by Taiwan due to exorbitant amounts of financial aid being requested.[10][11]

Aid

ROC aid to São Tomé and Príncipe focused on agriculture, energy, and technology.[12] Another area of cooperation was public health. Many Taiwanese medical professionals have lent their expertise in an effort to stop the spread of malaria in São Tomé.[13][14][15][16] Taipei Medical University began offering medical aid to São Tomé in 2009, and ended the program upon the cessation of official ties in 2016.[17][18] Prior to the end of bilateral relations São Tomé was a member of the Taiwan Scholarship program.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sao Tome and Principe profile". BBC. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b Mackerras, Colin (2001). The New Cambridge Handbook of Contemporary China. Cambridge University Press. p. 185. ISBN 9780521786744.
  3. ^ "1997--THE YEAR THAT WAS--1997". Free China Journal. 3 January 1998. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Diplomatic tussle persists as Saint Lucia plans shift". Free China Journal. 29 August 1997. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Week in review". Free China Journal. 12 June 1998.
  6. ^ "1998-THE YEAR THAT WAS-1998". Free China Journal. 1 January 1999. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  7. ^ Liu, Kwangyin (9 January 2012). "Sao Tome grants landing visa privileges to ROC nationals". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  8. ^ Shih, Hsiu-chuan (15 November 2013). "China opens trade office in Sao Tome". Taipei Times. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  9. ^ Hsieh, Chia-chen; Wu, Lilian (6 June 2014). "Taiwan perturbed by Sao Tome and Principe president's visit to China". Central News Agency. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  10. ^ "Office of the President issues statement on severance of ties with São Tomé and Príncipe". Taiwan Today. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  11. ^ Hsu, Stacy (22 December 2016). "Sao Tome and Principe cuts Taipei ties". Taipei Times. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Ma vows to strengthen ROC-Sao Tome relations". Taiwan Today. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  13. ^ "'Taiwan Revealed' launched at Taipei Guest House". Taiwan Today. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  14. ^ Hsu, Allen (6 September 2007). "ICDF aims to contain malaria, raise health levels in Sao Tome". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  15. ^ Chu, Owen (25 February 2005). "Taiwan helps Sao Tome eradicate malaria". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  16. ^ "Mosquito fighters awarded prestigious MOFA medals". Taiwan Today. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  17. ^ Her, Kelly (1 November 2012). "On a medical mission". Taiwan Today. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  18. ^ Chen, Wei-ting; Lee, Hsin-Yin (21 December 2016). "Taiwanese medical team to leave Sao Tome and Principe". Central News Agency. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  19. ^ Chen, Chih-chung; Hsu, Elizabeth (21 December 2016). "Taiwan Scholarship suspended after São Tomé-Taiwan ties cut". Central News Agency. Retrieved 22 December 2016.