Former Embassy of the Republic of China in São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe–Taiwan relations are relations between São Tomé and Príncipe and Taiwan (officially the Republic of China or ROC). Official bilateral relations began in 1997 and ended in 2016.
Bilateral relations between São Tomé and Príncipe and the Republic of China were first established on 6 May 1997.[3][4] In accordance with the One-China policy, the PRC suspended relations with São Tomé and Príncipe on 11 July 1997.[2] In February 1998, ROC Foreign MinisterJason Hu made an official visit to São Tomé and Príncipe. São Tomé and Príncipe PresidentMiguel Trovoada visited Taiwan in June of that year.[5][6] São Tomé granted Taiwan landing visa privileges in 2012.[7] In 2013, the PRC established a trade office in São Tomé,[8] and the next year President Manuel Pinto da Costa visited China in a private capacity.[9]
São Tomé and Príncipe terminated its bilateral relationship on 21 December 2016.[10][11] The Taiwan government stated that São Tomé and Príncipe had engaged in “gambling behavior” after Taipei’s denial of São Tomé and Príncipe's request for an exorbitant amount of financial aid and that the country had "approached both sides of the Taiwan Strait to seek the highest bidder".[10]
Five days after ending its relationship with Taiwan, São Tomé and Príncipe resumed diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.[11]David H. Shinn and academic Joshua Eisenman write that São Tomé and Príncipe's presence at the 2006 Forum Macao meeting as an unofficial observer may have begun the process of São Tomé and Príncipe switching its diplomatic recognition.[12]
Aid
ROC aid to São Tomé and Príncipe focused on agriculture, energy, and technology.[13] Another area of cooperation was public health. Many Taiwanese medical professionals have lent their expertise in an effort to stop the spread of malaria in São Tomé.[14][15][16][17]Taipei Medical University began offering medical aid to São Tomé in 2009, and ended the program upon the cessation of official ties in 2016.[18][19] Prior to the end of bilateral relations São Tomé was a member of the Taiwan Scholarship program.[20]
^ abXin, Qiang (2024). "Selective Engagement: Mainland China's Dual-Track Taiwan Policy". In Zhao, Suisheng (ed.). The Taiwan Question in Xi Jinping's Era: Beijing's Evolving Taiwan Policy and Taiwan's Internal and External Dynamics. London and New York: Routledge. p. 69. ISBN9781032861661.
