Costa Rica's DIS Officials Visit Taiwan, Prompting Strong Reaction from China
The Embassy of China condemns the official visit of Costa Rican intelligence officials to Taiwan, highlighting tensions in bilateral relations.
The Embassy of China in Costa Rica has expressed vehement opposition to the recent official visit of five officials from the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) to Taiwan for national security training.
In a press release, the embassy stated that "China firmly opposes any form of official contact between Costa Rica and Taiwan, and this position is clear and consistent."
The embassy emphasized that the principle of One China "is a basic norm in international relations and a universal consensus of the international community." It also reminded that since June 2007, Costa Rica has recognized that there is only one China in the world by severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
According to the embassy, this recognition also implies acknowledging that "the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing all of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory."
Reports indicate that the DIS officials were in Taipei for 23 days in May, participating in a series of training sessions related to national security.
The trip, which took place from May 8 to May 31, was not funded by the Costa Rican government, although it remains unclear if expenses were covered by Taiwan or another entity.
The officials, identified by their surnames as Fernández (two individuals), Sibaja, Quesada, and Solís, documented their stay with photographs shared on social media and WhatsApp.
The DIS is a police entity that operates directly under the presidency of the republic, tasked with gathering sensitive information and preventing threats to national security.
The DIS has previously come under scrutiny due to allegations of surveillance against lawmakers and individuals close to them, igniting significant controversy within the Legislative Assembly.
This issue gained public attention following an allegation from ruling party legislator Manuel Morales, who raised concerns about the former director and current adviser to the DIS, Hans Sequeira, while holding a GPS tracker that he had discovered in the vehicle of an associate.
Morales' allegations have raised alarms about potential political misuse of the state intelligence apparatus, prompting a debate regarding the limits of its operations and civilian oversight.
This situation adds another chapter to the series of tensions between the government of Rodrigo Chaves and the People's Republic of China.
Over the last two years, bilateral relations have deteriorated progressively due to diplomatic decisions and gestures that have caused discontent in Beijing.
The discord began in 2023, when the executive branch decided to exclude Chinese companies from the opportunity to become suppliers of technology for the 5G network in Costa Rica, citing national security concerns.
Since then, relations with China have cooled, coinciding with the alignment of the Costa Rican government with U.S. foreign policy, particularly in its strategy to counter Chinese influence in the region.
In April, the United States highlighted Costa Rica as a success story within this global strategy, marking the first 100 days of President Donald Trump's second administration.
A report from the State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, noted that Costa Rica has taken "significant steps" to distance itself from Beijing and form closer ties with Washington, particularly in critical sectors such as cybersecurity and 5G infrastructure.
The document also indicated that a partnership with Costa Rica has been established to enhance cybersecurity defenses and secure 5G infrastructure, uniting efforts to confront the threats posed by Chinese telecommunications.
In a press release, the embassy stated that "China firmly opposes any form of official contact between Costa Rica and Taiwan, and this position is clear and consistent."
The embassy emphasized that the principle of One China "is a basic norm in international relations and a universal consensus of the international community." It also reminded that since June 2007, Costa Rica has recognized that there is only one China in the world by severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
According to the embassy, this recognition also implies acknowledging that "the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing all of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory."
Reports indicate that the DIS officials were in Taipei for 23 days in May, participating in a series of training sessions related to national security.
The trip, which took place from May 8 to May 31, was not funded by the Costa Rican government, although it remains unclear if expenses were covered by Taiwan or another entity.
The officials, identified by their surnames as Fernández (two individuals), Sibaja, Quesada, and Solís, documented their stay with photographs shared on social media and WhatsApp.
The DIS is a police entity that operates directly under the presidency of the republic, tasked with gathering sensitive information and preventing threats to national security.
The DIS has previously come under scrutiny due to allegations of surveillance against lawmakers and individuals close to them, igniting significant controversy within the Legislative Assembly.
This issue gained public attention following an allegation from ruling party legislator Manuel Morales, who raised concerns about the former director and current adviser to the DIS, Hans Sequeira, while holding a GPS tracker that he had discovered in the vehicle of an associate.
Morales' allegations have raised alarms about potential political misuse of the state intelligence apparatus, prompting a debate regarding the limits of its operations and civilian oversight.
This situation adds another chapter to the series of tensions between the government of Rodrigo Chaves and the People's Republic of China.
Over the last two years, bilateral relations have deteriorated progressively due to diplomatic decisions and gestures that have caused discontent in Beijing.
The discord began in 2023, when the executive branch decided to exclude Chinese companies from the opportunity to become suppliers of technology for the 5G network in Costa Rica, citing national security concerns.
Since then, relations with China have cooled, coinciding with the alignment of the Costa Rican government with U.S. foreign policy, particularly in its strategy to counter Chinese influence in the region.
In April, the United States highlighted Costa Rica as a success story within this global strategy, marking the first 100 days of President Donald Trump's second administration.
A report from the State Department, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, noted that Costa Rica has taken "significant steps" to distance itself from Beijing and form closer ties with Washington, particularly in critical sectors such as cybersecurity and 5G infrastructure.
The document also indicated that a partnership with Costa Rica has been established to enhance cybersecurity defenses and secure 5G infrastructure, uniting efforts to confront the threats posed by Chinese telecommunications.