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Taiwan looks to Central America bank summit to loosen Beijing's squeeze

Wednesday, March 13, 2019


Taiwan is considering a bid to host a meeting of Central America’s main regional bank, according to people with knowledge of the matter, in the self-ruled island’s latest effort to break China’s diplomatic squeeze.

Taiwan may apply to host the 60th annual board meeting of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration next year, according to the sources. The bank is one of the few international organisations of which Taiwan is a full member under its official name, the Republic of China
(Taiwan).

The lender is expected to decide on the 2020 host at its board meeting in Argentina next month.

A decision to host the board meeting in Taiwan could prompt an angry response from China, which has increased pressure on countries and multinational companies to avoid any actions that could imply sovereign status for the island. China has learned of Taiwan’s wish to host the meeting and is lobbying its allies in the region, the South China Morning Post reports.