Zambia: China's Moot Threat Regarding Taiwan

The Chinese Embassy in Zambia announced Sept. 5 that Beijing will sever diplomatic ties with Zambia should the government elected there Sept. 28 recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state. The threat follows presidential candidate Michael Sata's comments that Zambia owes China nothing and his reference to Taiwan as a sovereign state. Regardless of China's threat — and Taiwanese businessmen's alleged funding of Sata's campaign — Sata is not likely to win the presidential race. With a mere three weeks to go and a limited start by Sata's campaign, Zambian voters will return President Levy Mwanawasa to power Sept. 28.