Page 11 - aruba-today-20190921

A11
WORLD NEWS Saturday 21 September 2019
Kiribati cuts ties with Taiwan, presaging switch to China

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The cut all formal outside rec-
Pacific island nation of ognition of Taiwan's gov-
Kiribati cut diplomatic ties ernment, formally called
with Taiwan on Friday, be- the Republic of China, and
coming the second coun- make it easier for Beijing to
try to do so this week and claim it, said Chao Chien-
strengthening Beijing's min, dean of social scienc-
hand. es at the Chinese Cultural
Taiwan's Foreign Minister University in Taipei.
Joseph Wu said that Kiribati "Other countries will call you
had officially notified his a non-state and then what
government of the deci- happens?" he said. "Let's
sion. say the People's Liberation
Kiribati is expected to rec- Army uses non-peaceful
ognize China, which has means for an activity in the
pledged billions of dollars Taiwan Strait. The United
in aid to help lure it and six Nations can't do anything.
other countries into switch- If other countries get in-
ing allegiance since 2016, volved, what legitimacy do
when Taiwanese President they have to help Taiwan?"
Tsai Ing-wen took office. In this Sept. 14, 2014, file photo, locals on a warehouse rooftop display the national flag while The Chinese pressure is
Taiwan "deeply regrets and watching Taiwan fighter jets practice during military exercises in Chiayi, central Taiwan. scaring ordinary Taiwan-
strongly condemns the Kiri- Associated Press ese, he said.
bati government's deci- In the Solomon Islands,
sion, which disregards the na. for dialogue that both be- as it wishes," said Fabrizio Prime Minister Manasseh
multifaceted assistance "This fully testifies to the fact long to a single China. It Bozzato, a Taiwan Strategy Sogavare said in a state-
and sincere friendship ex- that the one-China prin- has flown military aircraft Research Association fel- ment Friday that his country
tended by Taiwan to Kiriba- ciple meets the shared as- near the island and pared low who specializes in the had recognized China to
ti over the years," Wu said piration of the people and back Taiwan-bound tour- Pacific. ensure stability and avoid
at a news conference. constitutes an irresistible ism to add pressure on her Taiwan looks to its allies, uncertainty over what
Chinese foreign ministry trend of the times," he said. government. mostly small, poor coun- might happen if Taiwanese
spokesman Geng Shuang China claims sovereignty Taiwan has 15 allies left, tries, for international legiti- decide to unite with China.
commended Kiribati's over self-ruled Taiwan and compared to about 180 macy and a voice in the Wu remained defiant, say-
switch, which comes four wants the island to reunite countries that recognize United Nations. Taiwan left ing that Taiwan is not a
days after the Solomon Is- with the mainland. The two China. the United Nations in 1971 province of the People's
lands, once Taiwan's larg- split in 1949 during a civil "China has made the point as the international body Republic of China, the
est ally in the South Pacific, war. Beijing resents Tsai for that it can snatch as many recognized China. Communist government
severed ties in favor of Chi- rejecting its precondition diplomatic allies of Taiwan A total loss of allies would that took power in 1949.q

Philippines confirms 2nd polio case after declaring outbreak

By JIM GOMEZ drive starting next month is no known cure and polio
Associated Press that is likely to include tens can only be prevented by
MANILA, Philippines (AP) of thousands of children immunization, according
— Philippine health offi- under age 5. to WHO.
cials on Friday confirmed a At least 95% of children "We continue to urge par-
second case of polio in a that age need to be vacci- ents and caregivers of chil-
5-year-old child a day af- nated to halt the spread of dren below five years old,
ter declaring the country's polio in the Philippines, ac- health workers, and local
first outbreak in nearly two cording to the World Health chief executives to take
decades, and announced Organization and the part in the synchronized
plans for a massive immuni- United Nations Children's polio vaccination to be
zation program. Fund, which expressed scheduled in their commu-
Health Secretary Francisco deep concern over the nities," said Duque, who ad-
Duque III said authorities disease's reemergence in ministered polio vaccine to
confirmed the new case in the country and pledged a child a suburban Quezon
a boy from Laguna prov- to support the government city.
ince south of Manila after in immunizing children and The government's immu- Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, second from
left, administers anti-polio vaccine to a child during the launch
samples were found posi- strengthening surveillance. nization programs were of a campaign to end the resurgence of polio Friday, Sept. 20,
tive for the polio virus. The boy afflicted with po- marred in 2017 by a den- 2019 at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines.
Health officials declared a lio in Laguna experienced gue fever vaccine made Associated Press
new outbreak Thursday af- the onset of paralysis late by French drugmaker
ter confirming the disease last month but has been Sanofi Pasteur which some vaccines since then. cine under the campaign,
in a 3-year-old girl in south- discharged from a hospital, Philippine officials linked to The government halted the which was launched in
ern Lanao del Sur province. is able to walk and is be- the deaths of at least three dengue immunization drive 2016 and halted in 2017.
They said the polio virus ing closely monitored for children. Duque and other after Sanofi said a study Sanofi officials said the
has also been detected in residual symptoms, health Philippine health officials showed the vaccine may Dengvaxia vaccine
sewage in Manila and in officials said. say many parents became increase the risk of severe was safe and would re-
waterways in the southern Polio is a highly infectious vi- scared about immuniza- dengue infections. More duce dengue infections
Davao region, prompting ral disease which mainly af- tions but they have worked than 830,000 children re- if the vaccination drive
plans for an immunization flicts young children. There to restore public trust in ceived the Dengvaxia vac- continued.q