TAIPEI: Guatemala, one in every of Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies, reaffirmed its assist for the island on Thursday (Jun 5) throughout a go to by President Bernardo Arevalo, who stated his individuals will stroll along with their “brothers” in Taiwan.
Guatemala is one in every of solely 12 international locations to retain formal ties with Chinese language-claimed Taiwan and Beijing has been stepping up its marketing campaign to win these nations over to its facet. Taiwan says it has each proper to forge state-to-state relations and Beijing has no proper to intrude.
Arevalo, on his first journey to Taiwan since taking workplace final 12 months, stated at a welcome ceremony with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te that the 2 sides had been agency associates and “brotherly peoples”.
“We thank our ally for the assist we have now all the time acquired over these greater than 90 years. We reaffirm the assist of the Republic of Guatemala for the Republic of China, Taiwan,” he stated on the presidential workplace, referring to the island’s formal identify.
“On behalf of the individuals of Guatemala, I lengthen our hand to the individuals of Taiwan with the arrogance that we are going to stroll collectively alongside the trail towards shared well-being, which we are going to make extra profound and extra complete right now.”
Arevalo is being accompanied by his overseas and economics ministers.
Lai, standing subsequent to Arevalo, stated Taiwan and Guatemala will maintain deepening their cooperation
“Though our two international locations are geographically distant however the beliefs and values of the 2 peoples are intently intertwined,” he stated.
The USA has been involved about China’s efforts to grab away Taiwan’s allies, particularly in Latin America.
In February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Guatemala’s relations with Taiwan whereas on a go to to the nation, saying the US would assist assist it.
In 2023, Taiwan’s then-president, Tsai Ing-wen, went to Guatemala per week after neighbouring Honduras severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in favour of Beijing.
