Taiwan Blames Beijing 'bullying' For Guyana U-turn

Taiwan on Friday blamed "bullying" by Beijing for Guyana's decision to revoke a deal for the island to open a representative office in the South American country, saying it had tried without success to get Guyana to change its mind.

Taiwan had already begun initial operations at the office, in effect a de facto embassy, last month. It had been welcomed by Washington and condemned by Beijing, which claims Taiwan has no right to state-to-state ties.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said that because of Beijing's pressure, Guyana had "unilaterally" decided to back out of the deal, and Taiwan expressed deep regret it was unable to get the decision reversed.

"We express our strongest dissatisfaction and condemnation of the Chinese government once again bullying and compressing Taiwan's international space and Taiwan's participation in international affairs," the ministry said.

Beijing's continued efforts to isolate Taiwan in the international arena runs counter to declarations by mainland leaders that they are against bullying and that "no one with thick arms and big fists has the final say", it added.

"The Chinese government's way of saying one thing and doing another will only highlight its evil nature."

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Guyana's "timely correcting of its mistake" would benefit their relations.

"Taiwan's separatist actions and botched performances do not enjoy popular support, their ugly features laid bare, doomed to become a laughing stock," he added.

Beijing has gradually whittled away at the number of countries which still maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan and now only 14 do, almost all developing countries including Haiti, Nicaragua and tiny Nauru in the Pacific.

The United States has been particularly concerned at Beijing's efforts to grab Taiwanese allies in Latin America and the Caribbean, a traditional area of influence for Washington, and has accused China of offering economic inducements to seek domination. (Reuters)