Nairametrics| The Federal Government of Nigeria has broken all of its official ties with Taiwan after the Chinese government insisted that the FG supports its ‘One China’ principle which does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, but rather as a province under it, Bloomberg reports.
A joint statement signed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and China, Geoffrey Onyeama and Wang Yi respectively, said Nigeria ceases to have any official relations or engage in any official contacts with Taiwan. It said that the Nigerian government recognizes that there is only one China in the world with Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory.
“The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria reiterates not to have any official relations or engage in any official contacts with Taiwan, and supports all efforts made by the Chinese Government to realise national reunification,” the statement said.
In swift compliance to pressure from China and in accordance with the statement, the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama announced on Wednesday after meeting with Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, that the FG has ordered the immediate relocation of the Taiwan trade mission from Abuja the capital city, to Lagos. Onyeama also said Taiwan would stop enjoying privileges because it wasn’t a country recognized under international law, Xinhua said.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry have protested the decision in a statement Thursday.
“The foreign ministry strongly protests and condemns the unreasonable, rude and outrageous act of political hype carried out by the Nigerian government in complying with mainland China’s political goals,” the ministry said.
According to media reports, Nigeria’s decision to abandon Taiwan swiftly was also related to a $40 billion infrastructure funding promised by China into Nigeria. Analysts believe this made the decision very easy for the Nigerian government to make. Just last week, South Africa’s ruling party, ANC scolded Solly Msimanga, the opposition (Democratic Alliance) mayor of Pretoria for visiting Taiwan last month in what it called “a violation of its foreign policy that recognizes only the People’s Republic of China.”
By breaking diplomatic ties with China, Nigeria has now followed Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa in breaking ties with Taiwan.
Is that so ? under chief obasanjo our ex-president did pursued an aggresive one china policy since then, under jonathan,they were very friendly with the Chinese,who gave them loan,under buhari ,I still they continued one china policy,buhari did come to china last year,i do not think sucho one policy is any way weak.
THis Taiwan link is new to us nigerians