Taiwan slams Chinese accusations of dollar diplomacy with Guatemala | Taiwan News | May.

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Saturday (May 18) rejected allegations from China about dollar diplomacy with Guatemala.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson alleged that Taiwan had maintained political support from the Central American nation by paying off its politicians. The statement was a ploy by China to use the occasion of the May 20 inauguration of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) to try and disrupt Taiwan’s foreign relations, MOFA said.

It is common knowledge that Beijing uses money and corrupt practices to infiltrate other countries, harming their development by creating “debt traps,” according to MOFA. China’s latest allegations amount to a grave insult to the leaders of Guatemala, as it implied they were corrupt. T

Taiwan strongly protests Beijing’s accusations, and calls on the global community to condemn China’s hypocrisy, MOFA said.

Guatemala announced on May 12 it will send Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martinez to attend Monday’s inauguration. Mutual visits by President Lai and by Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo would be arranged later, according to MOFA.