BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Costa Rica forges new China ties

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Costa Rica forges new China ties

Costa Rica forges new China ties
Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias has announced that his country has broken diplomatic ties with Taiwan after 60 years and formed relations with China.

Mr Arias said Costa Rica needed to develop closer ties with China in order to attract foreign investment.

Taiwan and China have been governed separately since the end of a civil war in 1949, and both still compete for diplomatic recognition.

The switch leaves Taiwan with just 24 allies, compared to China's 170.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province which it has vowed to retake. It refuses to have diplomatic ties with nations that recognise Taiwan.

Following suit

At a news conference, the Costa Rican president thanked Taiwan for its "solidarity and co-operation" but said he had taken the decision "thinking of all the Costa Ricans".

"We are looking to strengthen the commercial ties and attract investment. China is the most successful emerging economy in the world," he said.

Analysts say Taiwan is fearful that Costa Rica's shift in allegiance to Beijing could prompt other Latin American nations such as Nicaragua and Panama to follow.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/6729035.stm

Published: 2007/06/07 00:51:31 GMT