Dominican Republic forges tie with China, breaks with Taiwan

The Dominican Republic's government has announced that it is establishing diplomatic relations with China and breaking its diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

It says it will later recognise Taiwan as an "inalienable part of Chinese territory." Flavio Dario Espinal is the legal consultant to the Dominican presidential office.

He said at a news conference today that the change in foreign policy was based on the Caribbean nation's "needs, potential and future prospects.