CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - AS Taiwan continues to seek a place at global tables, it has found an ally in Nevis’ Premier Mark Brantley and his Government as they push for the island-nation, which has for years been embroiled in a fight with mainland China, to be recognized.
The Republic of China (Taiwan) has been a long standing partner of St. Kitts and Nevis, and only recently the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, had wrapped up a trip to the Asian nation - underscoring the partnership.
In a social media post on Saturday (May 13), Brantley again called for Taiwan to be included in critical global affairs, describing the Asian island as “a peaceful, democratic and modern country”.
Taiwan continues to lead the world in the development of technology but, over the years, Beijing has been blocking it’s inclusion in major international organizations, claiming the island as part of the People’s Republic of China - thus preventing it from being recognized as independent.
“Taiwan should be allowed a voice at the World Health Assembly (WHA) to share its vast experience as global leaders in the provision of healthcare. Taiwan should be allowed to participate at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as it hosts one of the busiest airports in Asia and is on the cutting edge of aviation safety and security. Taiwan should be allowed to participate in INTERPOL as the fight against transnational crime knows neither politics nor boundaries. Taiwan must be allowed to share its expertise across international multilateral organizations as we all strive to meet our Sustainable Development Goals,” Brantley wrote on his social media page.
The Asian nation has been instrumental in a number of developmental projects, cultural extravaganza and the overall development of the society as whole in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Last year the Taiwanese Embassy had partnered with the National Carnival Committee for the staging of activities, including the reopening of the New Road Family, assisting in the development of the Malcolm Guishard Recreational Park, and signing on to the sponsorship of the St. Kitts Music Festival.
Brantley noted that the world could not continue to justify the exclusion of 23.3 million people from the global community, as they continue to play a critical role in the development of people across the globe.
This year marks 40 years of relationship between the twin-island Federation and Taiwan, and Brantley is thanking the Asian nation for its contributions, whilst batting for it inclusion within international organizations.
“We thank Taiwan for its long partnership with St. Kitts and Nevis and as we approach 40 years of Independence and 40 years of friendship between our two peoples, we join in the ever increasingly loud chorus that it is time that the expertise, knowledge and technology that Taiwan has to offer the world be allowed into the global space without further delay,” Brantley wrote.
He continued: “We face major global challenges and we must ensure that all voices are given the opportunity to be heard and all hands are allowed on deck as collectively we put our shoulders to the wheel and find solutions for a sustainable future for us all.”
The Premier has been a very vocal supporter of Taiwan’s inclusion, even chastising the United States for not doing more to help those territories that support Taipei.
“The US needs to engage not only with Taiwan but with Taiwan’s remaining allies around the world in a proactive and positive way, or it runs the risk of Taiwan being increasingly isolated diplomatically, and that is of no value to Taiwan and the Taiwanese people, it is of no value to the United States itself and its own geopolitical interest,” Brantley said while speaking on VON Radio back in March.
In recent months, Taiwan has lost allies within the Western Hemisphere including Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and El Salvador.
