By Su Yung-yao and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerThere were 42 instances of China interfering in the nation’s foreign affairs last year, the most in a single year for the past decade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Areas in which China exercised this interference included political and economic exchanges, as well as cultural events, the ministry said, adding that it expects Beijing to increase its pressure on Taiwan over the coming year. Aside from poaching the nation’s diplomatic allies, including Panama, which severed ties with Taiwan in June last year, China has also been putting pressure on non-official exchanges with other nations, the ministry said. China is expected to obstruct Taiwan’s attendance as an observer at this year’s WHA meeting as well, the ministry said. The scheme was established in 2003 by the UN to prevent “conflict diamonds” from entering the mainstream rough diamond market.

Source: Taipei Times March 10, 2018 15:56 UTC