Burkina Faso breaks diplomatic ties with Taiwan

Burkina Faso has cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Foreign Minister Alpha Barry said on Thursday.

"The government of Burkina Faso decides, as of today (May 24), to sever its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan," said the foreign minister in a statement to the press.

"The President of Faso Roch Marc Christian Kabore instructed me as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to make all necessary arrangements for the closure of our embassy in Taipei and that of Taiwan in our country," said the minister.

Barry said the decision by the Burkina Faso government was made to "defend the interests of Burkina Faso and his people" and to "form better partnerships to consolidate his socio-economic development."

Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa, established ties with Taiwan in 1961 with an interruption in 1973 for some 20 years. Their relationship subsequently resumed in 1994.

In April, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying reiterated the one-China principle, urging relevant African countries to join the family of China-Africa friendship and cooperation.

"There is only one China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory," said Hua at a routine press briefing.

Hua said the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government that represents China, which is recognized by both a United Nations resolution and an overwhelming majority of the world's countries.

Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe, the two African countries which used to have ties with Taiwan, had severed their ties with Taiwan successively and resumed diplomatic relations with China in 2016.