Bolivia’s foreign ministry on Friday issued a statement saying the country “expresses its solidarity with the sister People’s Republic of China, in the face of the loss of life and severe material damage caused by a large earthquake that occurred in recent hours off the coast of Taiwan”.
Hitting out at Bolivia, Taiwan’s foreign minister said “You shouldn’t be the evil, expansionist PRC‘s pathetic puppet that jumps when Beijing says jump.”
“Just like Taiwan, Bolivia is NOT part of communist China. No more, no less,” he added.
Separately, the foreign ministry also condemned the Bolivian statement, saying it was “following the Chinese authoritarian government to spread false remarks internationally that belittle our country’s sovereignty”.
Beijing asserts Taiwan as its own territory and keeps the option of using force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan, with only 12 diplomatic allies, accuses Beijing of leveraging economic aid to dissuade countries from recognizing it.
At least 10 people were killed and more than 1,100 injured by the magnitude 7.2 quake that struck Taiwan Wednesday, with strict building codes and widespread disaster readiness credited with averting a bigger catastrophe.
Earlier on Thursday, Taiwan strongly criticised China ‘s comment as ‘shameless’ after Beijing’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations thanked the world for its concern about a strong earthquake on the island, which he referred to as’ China’s Taiwan.’
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s government has expressed gratitude towards governments and leaders worldwide for their expressions of concern and offers of assistance, notably from the United States, Taiwan’s key international ally despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations.
Following their defeat in the civil war against Mao Zedong’s communists, the Republic of China government relocated to Taiwan in 1949.
Meanwhile, the People’s Republic of China was established with Beijing as its capital. Taiwan continues to be formally known as the Republic of China.
(With AFP inputs)
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