The government’s sudden dismissal of relations with Taiwan after nearly 80 years and its quick pivot to recognize the Peoples Republic of China took most people by surprise. It has, however, resulted in so much media attention that it has become the center of interest in the Dominican Republic. Since both governments announced, simultaneously, the start of bilateral relations at the highest level, almost 3 months ago, there has been a wave of trips by officials, businessmen and journalists from Santo Domingo to Beijing. Nearly daily, since then, the news has not ceased regarding the benefits that this decision by the government will supposedly bring to the Dominican Republic.
A few days ago, a Dominican diplomat told reporters that the Chinese government might invest as much as US $10 billion in the coming years in different sectors such as tourism, energy and infrastructure. For the director of relations with Asia and Oceania at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Luis Gonzalez, local exports to China could go from US$140 million to US$500 or US$600 million in the coming two years. It is worthwhile to note that in 2017, the trade deficit between the two nations was US$2.3 billion in favor of China. In the middle of last June, Economy Minister Isidoro Santana had visited China for the creation of a mixed commission that would provide follow-up to issues such as international commerce, bilateral cooperation, direct foreign investment, and the promotion of Dominican tourism to the world’s most populous nation.
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Acento
26 July 2018
