Dear Vincentians,
Breaking ties with Taiwan and switching to China is a very bad idea. I say this as a Vincentian first and secondly as a student in Taiwan.
Did you know that Sri Lanka was forced to sign a 99-year lease with China for a port in an attempt to erase $1 Billion of debt? Not all of their debt mind you, just some of it. For 99 years, the people of Sri Lanka cannot reap the benefits of a port on their own land. For 99 years, China profits by taking advantage of a nation smaller than they are.
The population of China: 1.4 Billion
Size of China: 9,596,961 km^2
The population of Sri Lanka: 21+ million.
Size of Sri Lanka: 65,610 km^2
The population of St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Approx 110,000
Size of St. Vincent & the Grenadines: 12th smallest country in the World, 389 km^2
I say all this to say, do you think China will give our small nation a slap on the wrist when, not if, we are unable to repay their debt when they ask? How will we repay them? Will we be forced to lease one of our Grenadine Islands for 99 years? Would that be enough?
The opportunities that Taiwan offers to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and its people, come without fear and come without a threat.
Sri Lanka’s experience is just one example of how greedy and evil China is. Feel free to look it up and even to look up other nations that China has unfairly treated. Neocolonialism: “ the use of economic, political, cultural, or other pressures to control or influence other countries, especially former dependencies.”
Sincerely,
Isis Racheal
A Vincentian that just wants the best for her nation.
