TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s former ambassador to Haiti, Yang Cheng-ta (楊承達), said on Friday (July 9) that ties with Haiti should remain stable despite the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

Yang said in an interview with CNA that Haiti is in a heightened state of political turmoil and too occupied to handle any changes in diplomatic relations. If China is actively trying to persuade Port-au-Prince to switch diplomatic relations from Taiwan to Beijing, bilateral relations would not have continued to this day, he said.

Furthermore, very few Haitians have a negative impression of Taiwan, and even fewer support switching diplomatic relations to Beijing.

Yang added that China may see Haiti as a “hot potato” and is grateful it does not need to get involved in light of the current situation. Additionally, If Beijing seeks to establish relations with Haiti now, there is no guarantee it will be permanent, as an interim prime minister is currently presiding over the Caribbean nation, the diplomat added. 

President Moise was gunned down at his residence outside Port-au-Prince on July 7, while his wife is seriously injured and is recovering in a Miami hospital. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has issued a red travel warning to Taiwan nationals planning to go to Haiti.