Taiwan has announced it will not participate in a high-level meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO), scheduled for March 26-29 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This unprecedented decision stems from a diplomatic dispute over the island's designation in official documents.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested after Cameroon used the term "Taiwan, a province of China" in documents submitted to its delegation. Taipei denounced the move as an affront to its dignity and claimed that the documents also contained several administrative errors.
According to Taiwanese authorities, these irregularities demonstrate that the host country had no intention of resolving the issue. Taiwan therefore decided not to send its delegation, citing a matter of "national dignity."
Taipei also accused Cameroon of "servility" towards China, believing that this situation reflects Beijing's influence on the international stage and the pressure exerted to isolate the island.
For its part, China considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory and opposes any international recognition of the island under its own name. Beijing insists on adherence to the "one China" principle, which it deems essential for Taiwan's participation in international organizations.
Taiwan nevertheless points out that it has been a member of the WTO since 2002 as a "separate customs territory" and asserts that its right to participate in international bodies must be respected.
