Botswana reaffirms one-China stance amid Taiwan rebuke
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused China of spreading false statements and warned Botswana against blindly following Beijing.
President Duma Boko reaffirmed Botswana's recognition of Beijing as China's sole legitimate government last Thursday, a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from Taiwan.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused China of using bilateral talks to spread false statements that denigrate Taiwan's sovereignty. The ministry warned Botswana to maintain objectivity and neutrality and not to underestimate the potential threat China's actions pose to regional peace.
On Tuesday, October 13, Botswana and China issued a joint declaration elevating relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, which describes Taiwan as part of China and rejects any form of Taiwanese independence.
Why it mattersBotswana's reaffirmation of the one-China principle and its joint declaration with China have led to a diplomatic rebuke from Taiwan.