Political Relations between Haiti and Taiwan
The Rise of Taiwan and the Beginning of a Decades-Long Political Relationship
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen on her visit to Haiti in 2019 shaking hands with Haitian President Jovenel Moise
The Republic of China (ROC), more commonly known as Taiwan, declared its independence from China and the previous Japanese occupation of the island in 1945. Following the rise of communism in China under the rule of Mao Zedong, the members of the ROC government, along with roughly 1.2 million former Chinese citizens, fled from China to Taiwan in the 1940s and 1950s after the loss of a civil war meant to keep China democratic (“History”). Since the ROC declared itself an independent state from China, the new nation has faced many challenges caused by the much larger and more powerful country Taiwan is, to this day, still trying to get out of the shadow of. The People’s Republic of China has refused to acknowledge the ROC as an independent country, instead referring to Taiwan as a part of mainland China. To make matters harder for Taiwan, China has also used its considerable economic and political influence to pressure other countries into not recognizing the independence of the ROC as well. Even the United Nations does not acknowledge Taiwan, as China has ensured that if a country or governing body recognizes Taiwan as separate from China, they will cut off all relations with that country. As it stands today, a grand total of fourteen countries publicly recognize Taiwan as separate and independent from China. One of these countries is Haiti, which has steadfastly recognized Taiwan’s independence since 1956. Haiti is generally considered the poorest country in the world. Its economic hardships as well as the series of devastating natural disasters that have plagued Haiti since it became an independent country in 1804, have put Haiti in a position where they often require foreign aid. Haiti is home to more GMOs than any other country in the world. The view of Haiti as almost a charity case to other countries has often caused more harm than good. Since it became an independent country, Haiti has struggled to be taken seriously by the superpowers of the world. This leads to the question: why does Haiti maintain a political relationship with Taiwan when this risks alienating other, more politically powerful, countries?
The Republic of China (ROC), more commonly known as Taiwan, declared its independence from China and the previous Japanese occupation of the island in 1945. Following the rise of communism in China under the rule of Mao Zedong, the members of the ROC government, along with roughly 1.2 million former Chinese citizens, fled from China to Taiwan in the 1940s and 1950s after the loss of a civil war meant to keep China democratic (“History”). Since the ROC declared itself an independent state from China, the new nation has faced many challenges caused by the much larger and more powerful country Taiwan is, to this day, still trying to get out of the shadow of. The People’s Republic of China has refused to acknowledge the ROC as an independent country, instead referring to Taiwan as a part of mainland China. To make matters harder for Taiwan, China has also used its considerable economic and political influence to pressure other countries into not recognizing the independence of the ROC as well. Even the United Nations does not acknowledge Taiwan, as China has ensured that if a country or governing body recognizes Taiwan as separate from China, they will cut off all relations with that country. As it stands today, a grand total of fourteen countries publicly recognize Taiwan as separate and independent from China. One of these countries is Haiti, which has steadfastly recognized Taiwan’s independence since 1956. Haiti is generally considered the poorest country in the world. Its economic hardships as well as the series of devastating natural disasters that have plagued Haiti since it became an independent country in 1804, have put Haiti in a position where they often require foreign aid. Haiti is home to more GMOs than any other country in the world. The view of Haiti as almost a charity case to other countries has often caused more harm than good. Since it became an independent country, Haiti has struggled to be taken seriously by the superpowers of the world. This leads to the question: why does Haiti maintain a political relationship with Taiwan when this risks alienating other, more politically powerful, countries?