Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning did not deny reports suggesting that the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been in contact with China to explore the possibility of establishing bilateral relations when asked at a press conference on November 26.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean. Commonly referred to as Saint Vincent, it is one of the remaining twelve UN member states that maintains official diplomatic recognition of Taiwan's government.
During the press conference, a reporter from Hong Kong's Phoenix TV asked the spokesperson to confirm reports that Saint Vincent's Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves had been in contact with Chinese officials to explore potentially establishing relations.
In response, Mao stated that the People's Republic of China's status as the sole legal government of China is a widely recognized consensus in the international community and a fundamental guideline in international relations, as attested by the 183 countries that have established diplomatic relations with Beijing.
She expressed hope that relevant countries would recognize current global trends, align with public opinion, and promptly make the right decision.
Taiwan and Saint Vincent's Diplomatic Ties
Taiwan and Saint Vincent signed a communique establishing formal diplomatic relations on August 15, 1981.
In August 2016, the New Democratic Party of Saint Vincent, then in the opposition and led by Arnhim Eustace, announced that if they came into power, they would establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
In October of the same year, former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and Saint Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves attended Taiwan's National Day reception together, visibly allaying fears over a sudden diplomatic break between the two nations.
