BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — ST. Kitts and Nevis and the Republic of China (Taiwan) continue to enjoy a strong and productive diplomatic relationship, marked by sustained investments in national development and human capacity.
Over the years, Taiwan has supported a wide range of initiatives across education, capacity building and infrastructure, contributing meaningfully to the Federation’s development agenda.
In an interview with SKNVibes News, Taiwan’s newly appointed Resident Ambassador, Edward Ling-Wen Tao, underscored the depth of the relationship, noting that the two nations have been diplomatic allies for 42 years.
He remind that Taiwan and St. Kitts and Nevis have been diplomatic allies for the past 42 years, and "have undergone a lot of cooperation programmes, which are helpful to both of our nations".
Since assuming his post several months ago, Ambassador Tao said he has engage with political leaders in the Federation to further deepen bilateral cooperation.
He highlighted several ongoing and recently launched projects, including the chicken layer hatchery, the desalination plant, education scholarships, the recycling programme and the digital identification initiative.
“We are also looking at new areas of cooperation in the coming years, and we would like to work hand-in-hand with the people of St. Kitts and Nevis for a brighter future,” he added.
Addressing concerns that have been raised about the relationship, Ambassador Tao emphasized that discussions with political leaders reaffirmed the strength of the partnership.
“I can assure you that Taiwan will remain a loyal friend of St. Kitts and Nevis for many years to come,” he told SKNVibes. “We are aware of the influence of China in the Caribbean area, but I can assure you that the assistance from Taiwan is real assistance—assistance that you will need for the future of your nation-building.”
While acknowledging growing concerns about China’s presence in the region, the ambassador stressed that the relationship between Taiwan and St. Kitts and Nevis continues to yield positive outcomes despite the geographical distance between the two countries.
He pledged Taiwan’s continued support for the government’s priority areas, including “sustainable development, education, capacity building, and digital technology.”
Ambassador Tao also pointed to the success of Taiwan’s scholarship programme, which has enabled hundreds—if not thousands—of nationals from St. Kitts and Nevis to pursue studies in Taiwan.
“We are seeing more and more graduates from the scholarship programme returning to your islands and serving not only in government, but also in schools and the private sector, utilising the skills and knowledge they learned in Taiwan for the benefit of local people,” he said.
“That’s something I’m very proud of, because Taiwan is a partner in your country’s education.”
He noted that more than 175 students were recently awarded scholarships, describing it as encouraging to see young people receiving financial support to advance their academic journeys.
In the area of sustainable development, Ambassador Tao said Taiwan has collaborated on projects such as the recycling plant and the solar farm near the airport, with additional initiatives planned for the future. He also identified ecotourism as another potential area for cooperation.
As part of its support for Taiwan, St. Kitts and Nevis has consistently advocated for the island’s inclusion in the United Nations and its affiliated agencies—efforts that continue to be blocked by China, which claims Taiwan as its own.
Ambassador Tao expressed gratitude for the Federation’s advocacy on the international stage, including recent efforts by the Prime Minister at the United Nations calling for Taiwan’s participation in bodies such as the World Health Assembly (WHA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“As you are aware, Taiwan is excluded from many of those important organisations due to political reasons,” Tao said. “It’s not fair to the people of Taiwan, and it’s not fair to the international community, because we would like to share our expertise with other nations, such as St. Kitts and Nevis and other countries in the Caribbean. Your support in those forums means a lot to me, to my government, and to my people.”
