News24
25 May 2018, 02:40 GMT+10
Burkina Faso has broken diplomatic ties with Taiwan in the latest blow to the self-ruled island that Beijing has been trying to isolate on the global stage, Taiwanese media reported on Thursday.
The West African nation's move means Taiwan is recognised as a sovereign nation by only 18 mainly small, developing countries, the official Central News Agency said. Earlier this month, the Dominican Republic established diplomatic relations with China and severed ties with Taiwan.
The Taiwanese news agency said the island's foreign minister would hold a briefing on Thursday. It has previously condemned what it called China's "dollar diplomacy" campaign of luring away Taiwan's allies with promises of vast financial aid and investment.
Beijing, which claims the island as its own territory, has been steadily dialing up the pressure on Taiwan's independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen. China has blocked Taiwan's participation in international meetings such as the World Health Assembly and has pressured multinational companies ranging from fashion brands to airlines to describe Taiwan as part of China.
The ruling Communist Party's military wing, the People's Liberation Army, has sent fighter planes near Taiwan's coast a dozen times since Tsai's election and an aircraft carrier sailing through the 170-kilometer-wide strait that separates them.
Tsai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party says it wants stable relations with China, but hasn't followed Tsai's predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, in endorsing the "one China" principle.
Some analysts say Chinese President Xi Jinping, one of the most powerful Chinese leaders in decades, seems determined to bring Taiwan under Beijing's control during his time in office, something that would place him in the history books alongside Mao Zedong.
Xi has warned a Taiwanese envoy that the issue of unification cannot be put off indefinitely.
* Sign up to News24's top Africa news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO THE HELLO AFRICA NEWSLETTER
FOLLOW News24 Africa on Twitter and Facebook.
Get a daily dose of Asia Pacific Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Asia Pacific Star.
More InformationTOKYO, Japan: U.S. President Joe Biden said this week that he supports calls for Japan to become a permanent member ...
JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesia, this week, summoned the UK's ambassador to explain the raising of a gay rights flag at the ...
SAGAING, Myanmar - According to a source close to the victim's family, regime forces shot and killed a third-year medical ...
SHANGHAI, China: The central Shanghai district of Jingan, a key commercial area in China's financial hub, has announced that it ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: A leading U.S. official has said that even if Taiwan is excluded from President Joe Biden's Asian economic ...
LONDON, England: Citing a U.S. official, the Financial Times reported this week that during the Quad summit in Tokyo, the ...
SHANGHAI, China: Tesla plans to restore production at its Gigafactory 3 plant in Shanghai to pre-COVID-19 lockdown levels by this ...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks rose sharply for a second day Thursday, following a less hawkish outlook by ...
DETROIT, Michigan: As supplies of new cars and light trucks remain tight due to supply chain issues, U.S. consumers are ...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The market for global online tutoring services is expected to grow from $21 million in ...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - Shares across Asia fell on Thursday, with the exception of the Chinese mainland market where modest ...
SANTIAGO, Chile: Easter Island, one of Chile's most important tourist attractions, will reopen to visitors on August 1, the government ...