Taiwan or China – where should we go?

EDITOR: Taiwan or China in respect to foreign relationship. We currently have relationship with Taiwan. However, there is talk about replacing TAIWAN with China.

Should we replace Taiwan with China? Well your guess is as good as mine.

Taiwan is a democratic country, while China is a one-party Communist state where there is no opposition and the only party who rules is a communist party. Taiwan, we know, is not a perfect state, but human rights and democracy is alive and well. On the other hand, China suppresses human rights and lacks democratic rights. Be that as it may, the major reason why any country would develop diplomatic relationships with another state is economic. China is regarded as amongst the richest countries of the world. The political ideology does not matter much in establishing relationship with another state.

We, as a nation, over the years, received much help from Taiwan, both financial and in other areas such as scholarships and buildings. These contributions received are either grants or loans. The loans to be repaid over a period of time with no agreement to repossess the buildings or assets of the state of SVG should there be
a default in repayment. Also with Taiwan the money is spent here in SVG in both materials and labour.

China, on the other hand, has lent and continues to lend money to many countries all over the globe, including the mighty USA. They however, in terms of lending for construction of projects, would have a great percentage of the work done by their own Chinese and also purchasing of materials also from China. Thus it is safe to say that a great amount of the money lent to those countries is spent in China, although it has to be repaid by the country it lends the money too.

Added to the above is the harsh reality that buildings constructed and other assets would be taken and claimed by China if the country that borrows the money from them are unable to repay its loan. If it continues in this way soon China will own a large ‘chunk’ of assets in the world, because of the inability of some countries to repay their loans to China.

Come to think of it, what would happen to those students studying in Taiwan should we change hands from Taiwan to China? Whatever decision is made will affect us as a nation. Thus, it is in our interest as citizens of this blessed nation to choose wisely. The way we vote will determine whether we keep Taiwan or replace them with China. Either way, we would have to live with the consequences or benefits from the choice we make. The future of this country is in our hands and not in the hands of the politicians. We should be the ones to run things and not the politicians.

Kennard King