China, Sao Tome resume ties after break from Taiwan

By Fuat Kabakci

BEIJING

China and Sao Tome and Principe resumed diplomatic relations Monday after the African island nation cut off ties with Taiwan last week.

State-run China Radio International reported that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterpart from Sao Tome and Principe, Urbino Botelho, held a meeting at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse in Beijing and signed a joint communique to resume the diplomatic ties.

Last week, Beijing welcomed Sao Tome and Principe’s cutting ties with Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province.

Following the break, Taipei only has official diplomatic relations with 21 countries.

Taiwan’s foreign minister expressed “deep regret” over the decision, which he described as "reckless and unfriendly”.

Underlining that ties between allies should be based on integrity and mutual benefit, David Lee said Wednesday that Sao Tome and Principe was seeking to curry favor with China as Taiwan was unable to meet the demands of the African nation, which he described as facing financial difficulties.

China broke off diplomat ties with Sao Tome and Principe in 1997 after it declared the establishment of diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Since Chinese nationalist leaders fled to Taiwan in 1949 after a brutal civil war with Mao Zedong's Communists, China has seen the region as a breakaway province that will eventually return.

In June, Beijing suspended a communication mechanism with Taipei after the Democratic Progressive Party, a traditionally pro-independence party, took power in the island territory.