Shyne is “Moved” by Taiwanese President’s Speech
On adjournment, we caught up with Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow and got his take on the ceremonial sitting, as well as the significance of President Tsai Ing-Wen’s presentation. Here’s that interview.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“I was very moved by her speech. We have so much in common insofar as existential threats to our sovereignty and so it really struck a chord when you listen to the difficulties that they are facing by the People‘s Republic of China. And it really brings to mind what we have faced over the years with Guatemala and what we are facing right now at the International Court of Justice. That is what really binds Belize and Taiwan, you know, throughout the course of the different governments, there‘s always discussion with overtures being made by the People‘s Republic of China for us to switch allegiance as a country. You saw recently, Honduras moved to diplomatic relations with the People‘s Republic of China and left Taiwan and it is a real matter that I believe there are only a few nations left, and as I listened to the president speak, I felt emotional that I don‘t think there is any, there is no amount of money in the world or no amount of offerings that could be offered to me as prime minister to abandon Taiwan because it is so much more than whatever material gains may be offered by the People‘s Republic of China. It is about democracy, it is about freedom, it is about sovereignty and we have shared this relationship for so long that if we are the last ones standing, we will be the last ones standing.”
On adjournment, we caught up with Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow and got his take on the ceremonial sitting, as well as the significance of President Tsai Ing-Wen’s presentation. Here’s that interview.
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“I was very moved by her speech. We have so much in common insofar as existential threats to our sovereignty and so it really struck a chord when you listen to the difficulties that they are facing by the People‘s Republic of China. And it really brings to mind what we have faced over the years with Guatemala and what we are facing right now at the International Court of Justice. That is what really binds Belize and Taiwan, you know, throughout the course of the different governments, there‘s always discussion with overtures being made by the People‘s Republic of China for us to switch allegiance as a country. You saw recently, Honduras moved to diplomatic relations with the People‘s Republic of China and left Taiwan and it is a real matter that I believe there are only a few nations left, and as I listened to the president speak, I felt emotional that I don‘t think there is any, there is no amount of money in the world or no amount of offerings that could be offered to me as prime minister to abandon Taiwan because it is so much more than whatever material gains may be offered by the People‘s Republic of China. It is about democracy, it is about freedom, it is about sovereignty and we have shared this relationship for so long that if we are the last ones standing, we will be the last ones standing.”
