The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today said that an agreement which had been announced yesterday for the setting up of a Taiwan office has been terminated.
This afternoon, Takuba Lodge said:
“The Government of Guyana has noted various media releases on the matter of a Taiwan Office in Guyana.
“The Government of Guyana wishes to clarify that it continues to adhere to the One China policy and its diplomatic relations remain intact with the People’s Republic of China.
“The Government has not established any diplomatic ties or relations with Taiwan and as a result of the miscommunication of the agreement signed, this agreement has since been terminated”.
The surprise agreement which was first announced by the US Embassy here yesterday was seen as undermining Guyana’s longstanding `One China Policy’ crafted in 1972. It was seen as risking a grave deterioration of relations with China as it approaches superpower status.
China had today criticised the decision for the setting up of the office.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Beijing hoped Guyana would not engage in official ties with Taiwan, calling on the country to “earnestly take steps to correct their mistake”.
Questions will now be asked about who in the government or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pursued this agenda and with what authority. It will be seen as a major diplomatic blunder.
