Notes from Central Taiwan: As allies fall, Taiwan risesTaiwan’s rising standing in the world has rendered losses of ‘ diplomatic allies’ mootBy Michael Turton / Contributing reporterIn 2013 Gambia, then ruled by dictator Yahya Jammeh, broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan. In 2019, when Taiwan lost two “diplomatic allies” in a week, the KMT demanded that Tsai sack Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮). Why isn’t poaching Taiwan’s allies more of a priority? Two years ago Timothy Rich, associate professor of political science at Western Kentucky University, surveyed Taiwanese on their diplomatic relations. His research found that if asked whether diplomatic relations with the “allies” were important, 58.7 percent answered in the affirmative.

Source: Taipei Times December 19, 2021 23:29 UTC