Taiwan Loses a Diplomatic Ally

A diplomatic dispute between Gambia, a relatively insignificant country, and Taiwan, a country trying to gain international recognition, shows how difficult it is for Taiwanese leaders to craft a foreign policy. On Nov. 18, Taipei cut diplomatic ties with the West African nation three days after Gambian President Yahya Jammeh announced he would cut ties with Taiwan. His announcement appears to have been a calculated move meant to reconfigure Gambia's alliance structure and is widely perceived as an attempt to court diplomatic relations with mainland China. Beijing may have little interests in such overtures, however, because they could jeopardize relations with Taipei. Still, losing diplomatic allies poses a problem as Taipei seeks to maintain its international status.