Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon today expressed concern that a Taiwanese Office for Investment will be established in Guyana.
“We find that very absurd. It goes against what we have always known to be [Guyana’s] foreign policy which is based on our own interest and not the interest of any other state,” Harmon said.
A ccording to the former Minister of State Guyana has always espoused the one China policy.
“We have strong diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China and that relationship has stood the test of time. Any sudden change like this in our foreign policy posture will require some deeper level of questioning before it is sprung on the people like that,” he stressed.
The egregiousness of the policy change is compounded Harmon noted by the fact that it was not announced by the Guyanese government but by the government of a foreign state, the United States of America.
Last evening the US announced the decision through a statement posted by its embassy here and which was shared by Deputy Secretary of State Julie Chung on her Twitter page.
“The United States applauds the agreement to establish a Taiwan Office in Guyana. Deepening ties between Guyana and Taiwan will advance their shared goals of prosperity and security. Closer ties with Taiwan will advance cooperation and development in Guyana on the basis of shared democratic values, transparency, and mutual respect,” the statement said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd told Stabroek News that this new measure does not affect the state’s commitment to the one China policy.
“I don’t see it as a conflict. We don’t have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. What we have are investments. There will be no interstate relations,” he stated as he explained that it will be private sector relations and not business done with government.
