Beijing (CNN) The Dominican Republic has announced it has severed ties with Taiwan and switched its allegiance to China, reducing the number of countries with formal relations with the government in Taipei to fewer than 20.

In a hastily arranged ceremony, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterpart from the Caribbean country signed an agreement after the Dominican Republic moved to formally cut ties with the government in Tapei.

"Establishing diplomatic ties with China means unprecedented huge potential opportunities for the Dominican Republic's development," Wang said.

China refuses to maintain diplomatic relations with any country that recognizes Taiwan, a self-governed and democratic island off China's southeastern coast that Beijing considers an integral part of its territory.

Taipei reacted angrily to the news, which left the island with 19 diplomatic allies around the world -- mostly small and poor countries in the Pacific and the Caribbean, with the Dominican Republic being the largest before the latest development.

"The Dominican Republic has ignored our long-term partnership, the wishes of the people of the Dominican Republic and the years of development assistance provided by Taiwan to accept false promises of investment and aid by China," Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told reporters.

Beijing and Taipei have a long history of rivalry in their efforts to gain economic opportunities and diplomatic support from governments around the world. With China's rapidly rising economic and political might, however, the race is increasingly tilting in China's favor.

Last year, in another major blow to Taiwan, Panama switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. There also have been strong indications that the Vatican -- Taiwan's most symbolically important remaining ally -- may follow suit in the near future.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, speaks after a signing ceremony with Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas, left, after they formally established relations.

Long-running rivalry

China and Taiwan -- officially the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China, respectively -- separated in 1949 following the Communist victory on the mainland after a civil war.

The two sides have been governed separately since, though a shared cultural and linguistic heritage mostly endures -- with Mandarin spoken as the official language in both places.

Although both Beijing and Taipei view the island as part of China, neither government recognizes the legitimacy of the opposing side.

There is a strong pro-independence sentiment within Taiwan's current ruling party led by President Tsai Ing-wen, prompting Beijing to harden its stance and stress its long-standing pledge to retake the island by force if necessary.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, the country's most powerful leader in decades who recently vowed safeguard "every inch of our great motherland's territory," ordered ramped-up military exercises around the island last month.

These included live-fire drills, sailing China's only aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Strait, and dispatching its fighters and bombers for "encirclement patrols."

Analysts see Beijing's warnings not just directed at Tsai's government in Taipei but also at the United States, which has grown closer to Taiwan under President Donald Trump.

Washington has close unofficial ties with Taiwan and provides the island with arms under the Taiwan Relations Act, but the US has formal diplomatic relations only with Beijing.

'Wishful thinking'

In the past few months, the Trump administration angered Beijing by authorizing US manufacturers to sell submarine technology to Taiwan, as well as enacting the Taiwan Travel Act to encourage official visits between the US and the island.

While Tsai has expressed confidence in the Taiwanese military's capability to defend the island, she appeared to extend an olive branch to Beijing on Friday in light of the historic summit between the leaders of North and South Korea -- another divided region in Asia.

Tsai said that she would be willing to hold talks with Xi if such a meeting could take place "on an equal footing and without any political precondition" -- an idea already scoffed by China's state media as "wishful thinking."

"On the one hand, she has been stepping up efforts to make Taiwan 'less Chinese' and carrying out a policy of 'saying no to China while fawning all over the US and Japan'; and on the other hand, she now demands respect for Taiwan from the mainland and wants to talk 'without any political precondition,'" said an online commentary of the People's Daily, the ruling Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece.

"Does Ms. Tsai think everyone else is a fool?"</s>China and the Dominican Republic have signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties, the Chinese government's top diplomat, Wang Yi, said at a news briefing on Tuesday.

BEIJING: China and the Dominican Republic have signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties, the Chinese government's top diplomat, Wang Yi, said at a news briefing on Tuesday.

The Dominican Republic has been a diplomatic ally of Taiwan.</s>"This morning, the Dominican Republic and China have announced the establishment of diplomatic ties. This was the result of China's efforts in offering vast financial incentives for the Dominican Republic to end their 77 years of diplomatic relations with Taiwan… To protect both the nation's dignity and sovereignty, the government announces the termination of relations with the Dominican Republic, effective immediately," the statement said, adding that Taiwan was deeply upset by China's actions.

READ MORE: Dominican Republic Establishes Relations With China, Severs Ties With Taiwan

The Dominican Republic was one of the few states that maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which were established in 1941.

Taiwan is not recognized as an independent state by China, which claims sovereignty over the island. Taiwan similarly does not recognize the central government in Beijing.</s>Dominican Republic has signed an agreement with the People's Republic of China, establishing diplomatic relations with the country and severed ties with Taiwan.

"The People's Republic of China and the Dominican Republic, in keeping with the interests and desire of the two peoples, have decided to recognize each other and establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level effective from the date of signature of this communique," a joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries obtained by Sputnik reads.

Beijing considers de facto independent Taiwan as a breakaway province. Many countries do not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation and officially stick to the "One China" policy.

In 2016, Chinese diplomats formally suspended contacts with Taiwanese officials after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen refused to support the idea of a unified China.</s>Beijing: Cash-rich China continues to lure away handful of countries still maintaining diplomatic links with Taiwan as the Dominican Republic today became the latest country to breakaway from Taipei and establish diplomatic ties with Beijing.

Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Dominican Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas signed a joint communique here on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Beijing and the Caribbean nation.

"The Government of the Dominican Republic recognises that there is but one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory," the communique said.

"Hence the Government of the Dominican Republic (DR) severs 'diplomatic relations' with Taiwan as of this day," it said.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be reunited with the mainland.

The Dominican Republic's decision to end the ties is the latest setback for Taiwan which is recognised by handful of small countries.

Last year, Panama broke away from Taipei and established ties with China, recognising Taiwan to be a Chinese territory. With this the number of countries that maintain full diplomatic ties with Taiwan has now been reduced to 19, which are mainly small, developing countries, 10 of whom are in Latin America.

The 'One China' policy, which states Taiwan and Tibet as part of China, forms part of basis for all the countries to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing.

Taiwan has been accusing China of luring small countries, backing it with big investment offers.

Last year, Taiwan expressed "anger and regret" over the "very unfriendly" diplomatic turn by Panama and accused it of "bullying" Taipei while "ignoring the many years of friendship" between the two countries.

Taiwan said it would "not compete with the Beijing authorities for money diplomacy".

The countries those have diplomatic links with Taiwan include Belize, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Guatemala, Paraguay, Honduras and Saint Lucia, Burkina Faso and Swaziland, The Holy See, Kiribati, Nauru, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Palau.

Establishing diplomatic ties with China brings the Dominican Republic great opportunities and will benefit the people of DR, the state-run Xinhua quoted Wang as saying.

According to media reports, Taipei said it was "deeply upset" at the decision, which it blamed on "dollar diplomacy".

"The government deeply regrets that Dominican Republic and China established ties on May 1. The ministry strongly condemns China's objectionable decision to use dollar diplomacy to convert Taiwan's diplomatic allies," Taiwan's foreign minister Joseph Wu said.

He accused Beijing of failing to honour its promises to those countries it had wooed away. "Its actions had damaged cross-strait relations and eroded trust," said Wu.</s>The Dominican Republic and China announced they were establishing diplomatic relations Tuesday as the Caribbean country becomes the latest nation to dump Taiwan in the face of Beijing's growing influence.

Taipei said it was "deeply upset" at the decision to sever ties as the island faces deepening international isolation while its giant neighbour flexes its economic and political might on the global stage.

The Dominican Republic said it believed its switch to ties with China would be "extraordinarily positive for the future of our country", in an official statement.

"The Dominican Republic recognises that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory," it added.

Beijing announced Tuesday morning that the two countries would exchange ambassadors "as soon as practicable".

At an emergency press conference, Taiwan's foreign minister Joseph Wu said the government "deeply regrets that Dominican Republic and China established ties on May 1".

Wu said the ministry "strongly condemns China's objectionable decision to use dollar diplomacy to convert Taiwan's diplomatic allies" and accused Beijing of failing to follow through on its promises to those countries it had wooed away.

Its actions had damaged cross-strait relations and eroded trust, said Wu, who blamed China's financial incentives for ending the 77-year alliance with Dominican Republic.

The government of President Tsai Ing-wen is trying to push Taiwan's international profile but is coming up against a concerted effort by Beijing to shrink its space on global platforms.

Taiwan is regularly shut out of influential forums as organisers come under pressure from Beijing not to recognise the island as a valid participant.

Mainland China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949, but while democratic Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign nation, it has never formally declared independence. Beijing sees the island as a renegade province that is part of its territory awaiting reunification.

There now remain just 19 nations worldwide with official ties to Taiwan, as its decades of Cold War era ties with Central America and the Caribbean have dwindled.

In June last year, Panama cut ties with Taipei to open relations with Beijing. Costa Rica did so in 2007.

An apparent warming of relations between Beijing and the Vatican -- considered Taiwan's most powerful remaining official ally -- has triggered concerns that the Holy See may also switch allegiance from Taiwan to China, which would come as a crushing blow to Taipei.

Wu said all assistance and cooperation with Dominican Republic would end immediately, while embassy officials and staff at technical missions would be repatriated.

Taiwan's vice president Chen Chien-jen had visited Dominican Republic in August 2016 when he attended the inauguration of president Danilo Medina. Ex-foreign minister David Lee visited again in July 2017, shortly after Panama switched recognition to Beijing.</s>The Dominican Republic and China announced they were establishing diplomatic relations Tuesday as the Caribbean country became the latest nation to dump Taiwan, leaving the island with just 19 diplomatic allies around the globe.

Taipei said it was “deeply upset” at the decision to sever ties, which deepens its international isolation while its giant neighbour flexes its economic and political might on the global stage.

The Dominican Republic said it believed its switch to ties with China would be “extraordinarily positive for the future of our country”, in an official statement.

“The Dominican Republic recognises that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory,” it added.

Beijing announced Tuesday morning that the two countries would exchange ambassadors “as soon as practicable”.

At an emergency press conference, Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu said the government “deeply regrets that Dominican Republic and China established ties on May 1”.

Wu said the ministry “strongly condemns China’s objectionable decision to use dollar diplomacy to convert Taiwan’s diplomatic allies” and accused Beijing of failing to follow through on its promises to those countries it had wooed away.

Its actions had damaged cross-strait relations and eroded trust, said Wu, who blamed China’s financial incentives for ending the 77-year alliance with Dominican Republic.

The Caribbean country’s ambassador in Taipei had been summoned by the foreign ministry to express their protest and to tell him to close the embassy, Wu said.

Taiwan now has 19 diplomatic allies left — 10 in Latin America and the Caribbean, two in Africa, six small island nations in the Pacific, and the Vatican.

Beijing and the Vatican severed diplomatic relations in 1951 and remain at odds over the appointment of bishops.

But an apparent warming of relations between Beijing and the Vatican — considered Taiwan’s most powerful remaining official ally — has triggered concerns that the Holy See may also switch allegiance from Taiwan to China, which would come as a crushing blow to Taipei.

Wu insisted that ties with the Holy See “would not be in immediate danger”, even if there were to be a breakthrough agreement on designating bishops in China.

Taipei has lost allies as decades of Cold War era ties with Central America and the Caribbean have dwindled.

In June last year, Panama cut ties with Taipei to open relations with Beijing. Costa Rica did so in 2007.

“We call on China to immediately stop provocative actions of exerting extreme political and military pressure on Taiwan,” they said.

The government of President Tsai Ing-wen is trying to push Taiwan’s international profile but is coming up against a concerted effort by Beijing to shrink its space on global platforms.

Taiwan is regularly shut out of influential forums as organisers come under pressure from Beijing not to recognise the island as a valid participant.

Mainland China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949, but while democratic Taiwan sees itself as a sovereign nation, it has never formally declared independence. Beijing sees the island as a renegade province that is part of its territory awaiting reunification.

Wu said all assistance and cooperation with Dominican Republic would end immediately, while embassy officials and staff at technical missions would be repatriated.

Taiwan’s vice president Chen Chien-jen had visited Dominican Republic in August 2016 when he attended the inauguration of president Danilo Medina. Ex-foreign minister David Lee visited again in July 2017, shortly after Panama switched recognition to Beijing.</s>Wang Yi and Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas in Beijing on May 1.

The Dominican Republic established diplomatic relations with China, in a new blow to Taiwan as Beijing seeks to isolate the self-governed island.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed the joint communique with his Dominican counterpart to establish ties at ambassadorial level in Beijing on Tuesday morning, China’s Central Television said in a Weibo post. Taiwan cut its relations with the Caribbean nation.

The move reduces to 19 the number of countries that recognize the government in Taipei, rather than Beijing -- the latest success in China’s effort to squeeze Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told reporters in Taipei that China lured the Dominican Republic with money and the island would not bow to pressure from Beijing. He added that relations with other allies were stable and there’s no immediate danger to Taiwan’s ties with the Vatican.

Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina’s legal aide Flavio Dario Espinal said the establishment of ties with China creates "immense" opportunities in areas from finance to technology, tourism, education and energy.

The Communist Party considers Taiwan a province and has criticized Tsai’s refusal to accept that both sides belong to “One China,” its precondition for ties. Since her pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party was swept to power in 2016, Beijing has attempted to woo Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic partners. In June last year, it won over Panama.</s>SANTO DOMINGO: The Dominican Republic and China announced they were establishing diplomatic relations Tuesday, as the Caribbean country became the latest nation to dump Taiwan, leaving the island with just 19 diplomatic allies around the globe.

Taipei said it was "deeply upset" at the decision to sever ties, which deepens its international isolation while its giant neighbour flexes its economic and political might on the global stage.

The Dominican Republic said it believed its switch to ties with China would be "extraordinarily positive for the future of our country", in an official statement.

"The Dominican Republic recognises that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory," it added.

Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy which sees itself as a sovereign nation but has never formally declared independence from the mainland. Beijing considers it a renegade province to be brought back into the fold and is upping international pressure to prevent any recognition of the island.

Beijing announced Tuesday morning that it would exchange ambassadors with the Dominican Republic "as soon as practicable".

At an emergency press conference, Taiwan's foreign minister Joseph Wu said the government "deeply regrets that Dominican Republic and China established ties on May 1".

Wu said the ministry "strongly condemns China's objectionable decision to use dollar diplomacy to convert Taiwan's diplomatic allies" and accused Beijing of failing to follow through on its promises to those countries it had wooed away.

Its actions had damaged cross-strait relations and eroded trust, said Wu, who blamed China's financial incentives for ending the 77-year alliance with Dominican Republic.

The Caribbean country's ambassador in Taipei had been summoned by the foreign ministry to express Taiwan's protest and to tell him to close the embassy, Wu said.

Taiwan now has 19 diplomatic allies left -- 10 in Latin America and the Caribbean, two in Africa, six small island nations in the Pacific, and the Vatican.

Beijing and the Holy See severed diplomatic relations in 1951 and remain at odds over the appointment of bishops.

But an apparent warming of relations between China and the Vatican -- considered Taiwan's most powerful remaining official ally -- has triggered concerns that the Holy See may also switch allegiance from Taiwan to China, which would come as a crushing blow to Taipei.

Wu insisted that ties with the Holy See "would not be in immediate danger", even if there were to be a breakthrough agreement on designating bishops in China.

Taipei has lost allies as decades of Cold War era ties with Central America and the Caribbean have dwindled.

In June last year, Panama cut ties with Taipei to open relations with Beijing. Costa Rica did so in 2007.

"We call on China to immediately stop provocative actions of exerting extreme political and military pressure on Taiwan," they said.

The government of President Tsai Ing-wen is trying to push Taiwan's international profile but is coming up against a concerted effort by Beijing to shrink its space on global platforms.

Taiwan is regularly shut out of influential forums as organisers come under pressure from Beijing not to recognise the island as a valid participant.

Mainland China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949.

Beijing has consistently said it wants President Tsai to recognise that Taiwan is part of "one China" but she has not done so.

Comments by premier William Lai expressing his personal support for Taiwan's independence have further riled Beijing.

"Given the current cross-strait political climate things like this (losing an ally) are bound to happen sooner or later, it's just a matter of when and which country," said political analyst Tang Shao-chengat the National Chengchi University in Taipei

"The timing of China establishing ties with the Dominican Republic is meant as a warning for Taiwan not to cross the red line to show support for Taiwan independence, since (Beijing's) recent verbal intimidation and sabre-rattling did not yield desirable results," she said.</s>China on Tuesday announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic, which subsequently severed formal ties with Taiwan, much like its neighboring Caribbean countries such as Costa Rica and Panama did in recent years.

At a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Dominican counterpart Miguel Vargas announced that the Dominican Republic has decided to end more than 75 years of diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established them with China.
The Dominican Republic severs ties with Taiwan and establishes diplomatic relations with China.