TAIPEI: Guatemala, one in all Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies, reaffirmed its help for the island on Thursday (Jun 5) throughout a go to by President Bernardo Arevalo, who mentioned his individuals will stroll along with their “brothers” in Taiwan.
Guatemala is one in all solely 12 nations 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 yr, mentioned at a welcome ceremony with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te that the 2 sides have been agency buddies and “brotherly peoples”.
“We thank our ally for the help now we have at all times obtained over these greater than 90 years. We reaffirm the help of the Republic of Guatemala for the Republic of China, Taiwan,” he mentioned on the presidential workplace, referring to the island’s formal title.
“On behalf of the individuals of Guatemala, I prolong our hand to the individuals of Taiwan with the boldness that we’ll stroll collectively alongside the trail towards shared well-being, which we are going to make extra profound and extra complete in the present day.”
Arevalo is being accompanied by his overseas and economics ministers.
Lai, standing subsequent to Arevalo, mentioned Taiwan and Guatemala will hold deepening their cooperation
“Though our two nations are geographically distant however the beliefs and values of the 2 peoples are carefully intertwined,” he mentioned.
The US 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 help 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.
