A Visit to China by Parliamentarian Kareem Musa Sparks Controversy

Last week, Caribbean Shores Area Representative Kareem Musa travelled to Shanghai, China.  Musa was along with Belize City Deputy Mayor Oscar Arnold and Councilor Michael Noralez.  Now, Belize does not have diplomatic relations with China, but with Taiwan so the visit by a parliamentarian and the deputy mayor and councilor raised eyebrows.  Sources inside the P.U.P. have confirmed that both Musa and Arnold did not effect the visit on behalf of the People’s United Party, but in a private capacity. The visit is said to have been organized by a Belize Chinese Organization and did not include meetings with high level Chinese government officials.   Still, the visit is interpreted as a way of showing that the P.U.P., when elected, could consider making a switch in diplomatic relations to China, cutting off Taiwan which has been a generous partner to Belize.  Little by little, the small number of countries that support Taiwan has been dwindling, but so far Belize has remained steadfast.  The P.U.P. has not officially made any statement on the visit and what it means for the party.  Musa has said that there was nothing sinister about the visit.