By Clive Bacchus
St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Another anniversary of Taiwan’s National Day approaches on October 10. The Republic of China (Taiwan) Embassy in St Kitts and Nevis Saturday (October 3) organized a beach clean-up in Friars Bay and Timothy Beach that featured Ambassador Tom Lee, Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris, Premier Mark Brantley, Minister of the Environment Eric Evelyn, other dignitaries and representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Tourism, and the St. Kitts Sustainable Development Council.
Taiwan established diplomatic relations with S Kitts and Nevis a month after the Federations gained independence in 1983 and the Embassy opened a year later.
With the signing of the Agreement on Technical Cooperation between Taiwan and SKN in 1984, the Taiwan Technical Mission was established.
Over the years Taiwan has collaborated with the Federation in agriculture, horticulture, and technology. Projects include
St. Kitts Eco-Park, Vegetable and Upland Crops Quality Improvement Project, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Renewable Energy and Agro-Processing.
At the recent UN General Assembly Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris again appealed for Taiwan to be allowed membership in the UN agencies like the World Health Organisation (WHO).
China claims Taiwan as a province and has blocked its membership in international organizations like the UN.
As the country’s National Day approaches Taiwan’s allies have extended best wishes and have added their voices to the call for a change of the status quo.
The National Day of the Republic of China also called Double Ten Day/Double Tenth Day commemorates the start of the Wu Chang Uprising of October 10, 1911, which led to the end of the Qing Dynasty in China and the establishment of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912.
The government lost the Chinese Civil War and retreated from the mainland to the island of Taiwan in December 1949.
