TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan’s ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has congratulated the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) for winning the election in the Caribbean country, one of Taipei’s last remaining formal diplomatic allies.

The NDP has previously proposed severing relations with Taiwan, which Saint Vincent has held since 1981, in favour of greater proximity with China. Their election manifesto, however, made no mention of ending ties with Taipei.

Only 12 countries now maintain official diplomatic relations with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, four of which are in the Caribbean.

Outgoing Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and his Unity Labour Party have long opposed ending relations with Taiwan.

On Friday, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said its ambassador to Saint Vincent, Fiona Fan,

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