Belize is sticking with Taiwan

In 2019, Caribbean Shores area representative Kareem Musa headed a delegation on what was then described as a fact-finding mission. The concern was whether the incoming PUP Government was contemplating switching diplomatic allegiances from Taiwan to mainland China. Several countries have already made the switch, will do it in short order, or seriously contemplate it. Honduras’s President Xiomara Castro just yesterday instructed her foreign minister to open official relations with Taiwan. In the case of Paraguay, if the current opposition party wins the presidency in April, they will also likely ditch Taiwan. Amid these shifts, we asked Minister Kareem Musa if Belize is following the tide. He insists that Belize is sticking with Taiwan. 

Hon. Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries: “That is certainly above my pay grade let’s start there but we continue to enjoy a very healthy and productive relationship with Taiwan. They have been huge friends and huge huge allies of Belize for quite some time now I believe since the 80s and so that is not even something that is up for consideration at this time. They are our friends and our allies and we completely respect them. There is this shift that is taking place across the world but as far as I’m aware no types of discussions like that is happening with our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they are certainly sticking with Taiwan.”

The Government of Belize issued a short statement earlier today declaring its continued recognition of the island nation as sovereign and independent. The release says in part, quote “Belize and Taiwan will work to strengthen their cordial bilateral relations based on shared values, the respect for the rule of law, democracy and human rights, and mutual interests. Belize believes that based on self-determination, the people of Taiwan should be recognized as an independent country with full membership in international organizations” End quote.