Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has described as “unfortunate” the position of the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) that it would sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan should it win the next general election in the country.

“It is not too late for them to change their minds, and I am

urging them so to do,” Gonsalves said as he addressed an event to mark Taiwan’s

108th National Day last Thursday.

He told the ceremony that for the past 38 years, successive

governments in the country have enjoyed very close relations with Taiwan, which

China considers to be a renegade province.

Taiwan has diplomatic relationships with a handful of

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, most notably St Lucia, St Kitts-Nevis

and St Vincent and the Grenadines, while the majority of the 15-member regional

grouping favour relations with Beijing that insists on countries adhering to

its “one China” policy.

In 2016, the NDP, then headed by Arnhim Eustace, said if they

are voted into office at the next general election, they would switch

diplomatic recognition to China.

Since 2017, Dr Godwin Friday, who succeeded Eustace as NDP

president and Opposition Leader, has repeatedly reaffirmed his party’s

commitment to ending diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in favour of China.