Taiwan Rebukes Botswana Over China Stance

Taiwan Rebukes Botswana Over China Stance

Taiwan Rebukes Botswana Over China Stance

Taiwan has condemned Botswana’s backing of Beijing’s position on its sovereignty, while President Duma Boko reaffirms his opposition to Taiwanese independence.

BONGANI MALUNGA

President Duma Boko has sharpened Botswana’s diplomatic stance on Taiwan, reaffirming his rejection of Taiwanese independence even as Taipei accuses Botswana of endorsing Beijing’s political manipulation.

The President’s renewed declaration, made during an interview with China Media Group (CMG) last Thursday, followed a joint statement with Chinese President Xi Jinping that drew a rebuke from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The one-China principle is inconsistent with anything that seeks to dismember, to parcel out certain portions of Chinese territory and diminish its sovereignty and integrity. And so, the question of Taiwan, to the extent that it seeks the outcome of a dismemberment is inconsistent with our stance on the one-China policy, the one-China principle. And it is something that we can neither countenance nor support,” Boko said in the CMG interview.

Joint Declaration

By publicly repeating the message, Boko personally reinforced Botswana’s longstanding recognition of Beijing as China’s sole legitimate government, putting himself at the centre of a growing war of words over Taiwan’s sovereignty.

On Tuesday, October 13, Botswana and China issued a joint declaration elevating relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. The document describes Taiwan as part of China, rejects any form of Taiwanese independence and pledges support for China’s efforts towards national reunification.