St. Lucia Statement on Diplomatic Recognition

Followup.

This is on the St. Lucia government website:

Surely, we do have the right to review our diplomatic relations with any country in keeping with the priorities of our country and the opportunities which exist in the world....

I assure you that, as Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and a leader in the Caribbean Region, I will always defend the right of countries, and especially small states, to determine their own foreign policy. No country, no matter how large or powerful, has the right to impose their will upon us. The principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, respect for sovereignty, and the right to self-determination will be vigorously defended by this government....

Some people just do not learn that they must respect the wishes of Saint Lucian's - whether in national or international politics. It appears that I will have to make it a lot clearer to Ambassador Hsu and his disgruntled local friends that they are rude to question the right of this government and the role of the Foreign Minister in the determination of our foreign policy. They are dismayed that the people of St. Lucia have stood in full support of the change in policy made by their leaders.

Sounds like a ringing endorsement of St. Lucia's right to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan, right?

Not exactly. The quotes above are from the 1997 timeframe, when St. Lucia broke diplomatic relations with Taiwan, in favor of relations with the People's Republic of China.

But the same principles apply. Any nation can establish relations with any other nation as they danged well please.

taiwan

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