CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):

Prime Minister Sir John Compton says diplomatic relations between St. Lucia and China are firmly in place, dismissing suggestions that Castries was looking towards re-establishing links with Taiwan.

In a statement on Thursday, Sir John, whose administration came to office following last December's general election, said his government had continued the diplomatic relations that had been reached between the previous administration.

Misguided reports

He suggested that reports of St. Lucia breaking off diplomatic relations with China were misguided.

The Kenny Anthony administration had broken off diplomatic ties with Taiwan a decade ago in favour of China and there had been much speculation that the new government would reverse the decision.

Earlier this week, media reports said that the resident Chinese Ambassador Gu Min had become anxious about the non signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries, and accused the Republic of Taiwan of arranging for a number of emissaries to visit the island in an attempt to sabotage the good relations between mainland China and St. Lucia.

However, Sir John said the MoU was not the sole condition under which relations could exist between the two nations.

"We have signed no such memorandum with the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia or any other country and diplomatic ties with those countries are not in question," he said.