Foreign minister David Lin says Taiwan’s diplomatic ties with Burkina Faso remain unchanged despite the resignation of its president.
The foreign minister made the comments late Friday, after Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore announced that he would step down. On Thursday thousands of demonstrators in Burkina Faso stormed into the National Assembly, looting offices and setting fire to them before turning to the national television headquarters. They were voicing their opposition to a bill that would have extended the 27-year rule of Compaore.
Burkina Faso is one of Taiwan’s 22 diplomatic allies. Some are worried that the political turmoil in the West African country may lead to a severance of ties because the new government may favor China over Taiwan. China forbids its allies from recognizing Taiwan, which it claims to be part of its territory, even though the two sides have been ruled separately for more than 60 years.