China's squeeze on Taiwan is intensified
after Beijing one over another of
Taiwan's dwindling diplomatic allies the
defection of Panama on Tuesday leaves
Taiwan with just 20 countries that
formally recognize it
most of these are small impoverished
nations by Palau in the South Pacific
and Haiti in the Caribbean Panama's
switch is a blow to the pro-independence
government of sighing won and it
highlights how China is deploying a mix
of carrots and sticks to exploit the
diplomatic vacuum left by President
Donald Trump China has worked hard to
neutralize opposition's the military
bases they've built in the South China
Sea meanwhile South Korea has suspended
the deployment of the us-backed missile
shield offering economic boycott by
Beijing China claims that Taiwan is its
territory under threat of sanction from
Beijing most countries refuse to
recognize Taiwan's government diplomats
expect more of Taiwan's allies to follow
Panama's lead Taiwan is not likely to
bend to Beijing's will anytime soon but
the pressure is increasing while Asian
nations threat of a president Trump's
lack of commitment to the region China
is exploiting the uncertainty to maximum
advantage there Bland's Financial Times