BEIJING, China (AFP): Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada, which currently recognises Taiwan, has visited Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry announced, somewhat belatedly, on Thursday, signalling Taipei might lose another of its allies. Grenada is still among 26 countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan as opposed to China and the announcement in Beijing comes a day after Taipei said its ambassador in the Caribbean island state had been recalled in protest over its alleged plan to shift diplomatic recognition to Beijing. "We have noticed the remarks made by the Prime Minister of Grenada after he visited Beijing," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Thursday. According to the China Times of Taiwan, Mitchell had made a secret trip to Beijing in early December and expressed willingness to develop closer ties with China. Liu said at a regular news briefing Thursday: "China is willing to develop friendly relations with Grenada ... we are willing to normalize our ties with Grenada. "I don't know if he (Mitchell) is going to carry out another visit to China." Taiwanese Foreign Minister Chen Tan-sun had earlier stressed Taipei had "already prepared for the worst" when Mitchell was visiting China and that a statement severing ties with Grenada had been drafted. Reports in Taiwan earlier this month said Grenada may follow the lead of fellow Caribbean state, the Commonwealth of Dominica, which in March cut its 21-year-old ties with Taiwan -- allegedly after China offered a hefty aid package. Taiwan has accused China of resorting to "dollar diplomacy" to lure away Grenada by promising aid "several times" more than Taiwan's. It also blamed Grenada for using Beijing as a bargaining chip to demand more money from Taipei. Taipei and Beijing are bitter rivals and have engaged in a diplomatic tug-of-war to woo allies away from each other with generous financial aid. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province awaiting reunification with the rest of the country. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com