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November 16, 2004

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If it's Monday it's Taiwan

Vanuatu has spent the past couple of weeks trying to decide if it is recognising China or Taiwan. Finally it has made it's mind up and is going with Taiwan. What high principle drove the decision?

They [Vanuatu] are caught in a diplomatic war of recognition between China and Taiwan, which accuse each other of using "dollar diplomacy" to woo allies. A Vanuatu government official said Taipei had offered US$30 million in aid.
What a waste of money.

 posted by Simon on 11.16.04 at 09:35 AM in the




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It's just not cricket
Excerpt: It was Vanuatu's turn earlier this month; now it's Antigua. I'll bet you never realised that China's Government is so interested in cricket that it has fully paid for a cricket stadium in Antigua for the 2007 World Cricket Cup. The total spent so far: ...
Weblog: Simon World
Tracked: November 19, 2004 08:37 AM

If it's Monday it's Taiwan China
Excerpt: China and Taiwan are already at war. Vanuatu, previously a typical semi-dysfunctional Pacific island state, is now a diplomatic football. Last week the PM plumped finally for Taiwan after two weeks of dithering. Naturally that pissed China off. Vanuatu...
Weblog: Simon World
Tracked: November 22, 2004 09:02 AM


Comments:

Vanuatu might recognise the Gates foundation as a seperate country if they give a similar aid.

 posted by: kautilya on 11.16.04 at 02:31 PM [permalink]

What's that? About US$150 per person? That's not bad ...

I think you're being a bit premature declaring a winner though - we haven't yet seen China's counter-offer (I think they're only offering a measly US$10 million so far - pretty pathetic really).

The thing I find *really* fishy about this is that it seems to being pushed solely by one man (the Vanuatu PM) - without even the knowledge of his cabinet. One wonders how much 'aid' he is receiving personally.

 posted by: David on 11.16.04 at 11:12 PM [permalink]

I have to agree -- what a waste. The whole episode has been farcical. Personally, I think Vanuatu is still best just as the setting for "Survivor."

 posted by: Mad Minerva on 11.17.04 at 03:56 AM [permalink]

So what does all it mean? Vanuatu had no problem registering the North Korean ship caught smuggling heroin into Aussie last year, so it's not as if their choice of Taiwan signalled any political shadings.

Hmm. 30 million U.S. I wonder if Rottnest could be declared a republic? Might be worth a try.

 posted by: lirelou on 11.18.04 at 03:34 PM [permalink]




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