Taiwan Trade Mission in Bahrain Forced to Change Names

 Taiwan Trade Mission in Bahrain Forced to Change Names

Source: United Daily News

July 13, 2017

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) pointed out yesterday that due to heavy pressure from the Mainland, the Bahrain government forced the Taiwan Trade Mission in Bahrain to change its name to Trade Office of Taipei to the Kingdom of Bahrain. This is the fourth mission which has been forced to change names bearing “the Republic of China” or “Taiwan” in their names located in countries without diplomatic ties with the ROC. Now, we only maintain Commercial Office of “the Republic of China” in Jordon among countries with which we do not have diplomatic ties.

The MOFA expressed dissatisfaction and deep regrets over the Bahrain government’s demand for the name change under pressure from the Mainland.

However, Bahrain is an important financial center in the Middle East and also one of the countries from which the ROC imports fossil fuels and primary aluminium. In addition, economic and trade relations between the two nations have developed steadily. Therefore, Bahrain is still of importance to the ROC for expanding into the Islamic market in the Middle East. In consideration of the aforementioned reasons, the MOFA said that it would continue to strengthen and promote the substantive relationship of bilateral exchanges and cooperation between the two countries on the basis of maintaining the ROC’s dignity and our nationals’ rights and interests.

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