Taiwan denies what is in front of its face
Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday that the fact that Taiwan authorities are resorting to "dollar diplomacy" in exchange for political support is beyond denial in face of abounding examples.
The remarks came after the Taiwan region's ruling Democratic Progressive Party rejected in a statement the ministry's previous allegation that the DPP authorities had bribed the Central American country's president.
"The DPP authorities' use of 'dollar diplomacy' in Guatemala is clear and backed by hard evidence," Wang told reporters at a regular news briefing in Beijing.
As early as in 2014, former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo had admitted to taking $2.5 million in bribes from Taiwan in exchange for continuing to maintain the so-called "diplomatic ties" with the region.
Last year, the National Hospital of Chimaltenang that Guatemala built with support from the Taiwan authorities was involved in a corruption case, resulting in the arrest of Guatemala's vice-minister of health and the director of the hospital for embezzling $8.6 million.
"There are more such examples. No matter how the DPP authorities tried to desperately defend themselves and deny the evidence, the fact that the Taiwan authorities are seeking political support through 'dollar diplomacy' tactics will not change," Wang said.
The spokesman also said that the fact that 183 countries in the world have established diplomatic relations with China proves that the Taiwan authorities' attempt for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities is futile.
"It is nothing but a self-deception trick that can neither shake the one-China principle, nor can it stop the inevitable historical trend of China's reunification," Wang said.
It is hoped that a very small number of countries, including Guatemala, can read the overall situation and make the right choice at an early date, he added.
Now there are only 12 countries, including Guatemala, that maintain so-called "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan region.
