Meddling in China's affair violates norms

In a show of the power politics - that it is quick to lambast others for - the United States said on Friday it had recalled its top diplomats in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Panama over those countries' decisions to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The move was preceded by US senators' introducing legislation on Wednesday that would authorize the State Department to downgrade US relations with any government that shifts away from Taiwan.

By resorting to coercion in this way, in the hope that those countries that still maintain "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan will be deterred from shifting diplomatic recognition to the Chinese mainland, Washington is showing that it has no respect for the norms of international relations.

It is also blatantly trying to intervene in a matter that is the domestic jurisdiction of another sovereign nation, proving that nothing is stronger than habit, since this has become one of Washington's favorite pastimes.