ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Tues. Dec. 21: Opposition parliamentarian Peter David last night chided Prime Minister Keith Mitchell for failing to clarify his diplomatic position on mainland China and Taiwan, just hours after the Grenadian leader addressed the nation. Mitchell, in an 8 p.m. address to nationals, stopped short of saying whether he will maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan/Republic of China while establishing ties with mainland China, a political foe of the ROC. Instead, the prime minister, who has faced criticism in the past week for his sudden trip to meet with Chinese leaders over long-time allies, Taiwan, stated, “… sisters and brothers, on the matter of diplomatic relations with the Republic of China on Taiwan, I would prefer not to ventilate certain facts in public.” He instead cited the argument that “Grenada’s foreign and diplomatic policies must … be consistent with … international trends.” Such trends, said Mitchell, show that the majority of countries of the world, including the U.S.; the United Kingdom; Canada; Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and most countries in Caricom and Latin America, have diplomatic relations with mainland China, not Taiwan. “Politically and diplomatically, it is in the long term best interest of Grenada to ensure that it does not become an isolated state within the polarized but wider global community,” stated Mitchell, in explaining his sudden decision to visit China, a country with whom he has no diplomatic ties. “This has become all the more crucial, given the post-Ivan challenges that have left us considerably more vulnerable than we were before.” But MP David, the opposition Parliamentary representative in the Lower House for the Town of St. George, reached at his Grenada home by HBN last night, said, he remains simply “unclear” over where Mitchell really stands now. He said Mitchell’s speech seemed like one delivered more to appease those at home who had questioned the PM’s visit and asked where was the aid that was obtained from China and why was it “a big secret?” Mitchell stated last night, that he was “… pleased to report that in Beijing we successfully negotiated a package of assistance that will flow directly to various sectors of our economy and our Country, and will extend over the next five to six years.” But added, “The understanding between both sides is that, until the official signing, we cannot disclose the specific details. You’ve got to bear with me on this. We expect to do that soon.” Officials at the Taiwanese Embassy in Grenada have called the decision by Mitchell to visit mainland China, unfriendly and claimed the move has hampered relations between both countries. Mitchell made an official trip to mainland China over the weekend of Dec. 11 with a seven-member delegation comprising his wife, son, government and business officials. Officials at the Taiwanese Embassy learnt of the visit via a news item on the local radio station as the notice of his departure was disclosed minutes before he boarded a British Airway flight that took him to London and then to China. Grenada and Taiwan established diplomatic ties on July 20, 1989. Over the fifteen years Taiwan has continued to provide assistance to Grenada in diverse areas including financial grants and soft loans, infrastructure, education, health and agriculture. Taiwan has played a very important role for the progress, development and prosperity of the Grenada and Taiwan’s big contribution is well known and has won the gratitude of the Grenadian people. But last night Mitchell said relations with Taiwan have been strained in recent years that “ … feed back we had from these diplomatic initiatives and behind-the-scenes approaches led us to the conclusion that Grenada was no longer important to Taiwan.” Opposition MP David, however, said while he and other opposition members have always supported a rethinking of the Spice Isle’s diplomatic relations, he remains cognizant that “diplomacy is a science, not a street hustle.” “That’s what he (Mitchell) is doing,” he added. Reprinted from Hardbeatnews.com