7 News Belize

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Got What He Came For
posted (July 28, 2017)
Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Dr. David Lee wrapped up his 48 hour visit to Belize this morning. It's the longest stay of any Taiwanese Official since Vice President Wu Den-Yih visited in 2012.

And Lee came at the right time: 6 weeks after Panama dumped Taiwan and switched its alliance to mainland China.

So Lee came to Belize to sign a big money agreement, and to make sure that this country was still confidently in Taiwan's camp. At the end of the trip, he told us he is satisfied.

Jules Vasquez reporting
The last stop for Foreign Minister Lee and his wife Chih Lin was The Samuel Haynes Center For Excellence. This is the flagship project for Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington and his wife Barbara in his Pickstock constituency.

Foreign Minister Lee got to sample some green mango chutney and enjoy some cultural presentations by the children, even if some of the puppet's raunchier moves may have gotten lost in translation, the foreign minister was a good sport.

H.E. Dr. David Tawei Lee, Foreign Minister of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
"We have witnessed some of their part of education such as computer information technology, music and also the puppet show. I have to say I am impressed."

Lee also spoke favorably of his visit in general:

H.E. Dr. David Tawei Lee, Foreign Minister of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
"I think this 48 hour visit is a short one, but has left deep memory of my wife and myself and my delegation."

But more than just receiving honors - Lee''s main business in Belize - was to make sure that Belize stays amongst its 19 remaining allies - after Panama switched to mainland China earlier this year:

H.E. Dr. David Tawei Lee, Foreign Minister of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
"Certainly we are sorry that Panama chooses the communist China as their diplomatic ally, but I always consider that we still have many friends in the Central American region and I was assured by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister over the past 2 days that we will continue to work together for the betterment of the Belizean people."

So basically, Lee got what he came for - and so did Belize when he signed the four year 60 million dollars Memorandum of Understanding.

And that agreement is for 60 million US dollars on loans and grants over 4 years.

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