BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – President Tsai Ing-wen Monday thanked Belize for its “unwavering “ support for Taiwan as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country remains among 13 countries globally enjoying diplomatic relations with the Asian country.
Tsai, who arrived here on Sunday as part of her visit to Guatemala and Belize after Honduras switched allegiance to China late last month, told a joint sitting of the National Assembly that Taiwan would remain forever grateful for Belmopan’s strong support for her country.
“We have remained close because of our common values and a shared vision for a more prosperous and peaceful future. We will also continue to work together to demonstrate that democracies help one another, and we deliver.
“Here in the presence of true friends, please allow me to reaffirm Taiwan’s steadfast commitment to our bilateral partnership,” she told the legislators, adding, “even though our countries are thousands of miles apart, our connection is intimate and intense.
“We share some familiar history by emerging from colonial rule and rising above our challenging past. Now, we uphold the values of democracy and face the challenges to our existence without hesitation.”
She said the relationship is a testimony to what courage, determination, and diligence can achieve, “and our relationship is built on a genuine partnership between our government, our people, and our businesses.”
China has been calling on the global community to adhere to its “One China” policy and break off diplomatic relations with Taipei, which it considers a renegade province. Still, Tsai told legislators that her visit to Belize “has solidified my confidence that our relationship will continue to stay strong for decades to come.”
RSAI, who spoke of the various bilateral projects being undertaken here worth millions of dollars, reiterated an earlier pledge that “the friendship between Taiwan and Belize is not built on empty promises or the political whims of our leadership.
“This friendship for the past 34 years has led to results that have benefited the people from both our countries while we recognize that there are countries that cease to instill that pledge into this friendship.”
Earlier, she said she was delighted to be back in Belize among friends acknowledging that there will be challenges such as climate change, economic downturn, and “most challenging of all, expansionist threats from authoritarian regimes” in the post-coronavirus (COVID-19) era.
“The people of Taiwan face constant threats and pressure from the neighbor on the other side of the Taiwan Strait. But Taiwan’s relationship with democracies worldwide has grown stronger within years.”
She said that while the country continues to be excluded from various international organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Health Organisation, “Belize has helped give voice to the 23 million people of Taiwan.
“I want to say thank you,” she said, adding that the CARICOM country continues to be Taiwan’s “strongest and most powerful advocate for our international participation.”
She said the National Assembly had also passed a resolution and supported “democratic Taiwan.
“On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the government of Belize and all the members of the House and the Senate. Your unwavering friendship and support mean so much to us. Thank you”.
Prime Minister John Briceno told the visiting head of state that “our house is your house” and that Belize would remain a friend her country could rely upon.
He said the last meeting of the National Assembly had approved a resolution to support a democratic Taiwan.
During her visit, the Taiwanese President will hold bilateral talks with Briceno, witness the signing of a bilateral technical cooperation agreement, tour the sites of joint projects between the two countries, and attend banquets.
and then  country){kind=link}