Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Relationship assessment
Taiwan recognition remains the central obstacle to formal relations between China and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
People's Republic of China toward Saint Kitts and Nevis
-20China's policy of requiring diplomatic partners to recognize the People's Republic of China rather than Taiwan has precluded formal diplomatic relations with Saint Kitts and Nevis, which maintains ties with Taiwan.
Saint Kitts and Nevis toward People's Republic of China
-25Saint Kitts and Nevis maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than recognizing the People's Republic of China, leaving the two governments without formal diplomatic relations.
Overall relationship
-20The relationship is shaped chiefly by the incompatibility between China's requirement that diplomatic partners recognize Beijing and Saint Kitts and Nevis's diplomatic ties with Taiwan. This has prevented formal relations between the governments; the extent of other direct interaction is unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Saint Kitts and Nevis maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than the People's Republic of China. China's policy of requiring diplomatic partners to recognize Beijing instead of Taiwan has precluded formal diplomatic relations between the two governments. The Taiwan recognition issue is the central feature of their relationship; information about other direct government interactions is limited.
Areas of tension
- Saint Kitts and Nevis's diplomatic relations with Taiwan conflict with China's requirement that diplomatic partners recognize the People's Republic of China.
Key developments
Saint Kitts and Nevis established diplomatic relations with Taiwan after independence.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of direct government contacts or practical cooperation outside the Taiwan recognition issue is unclear.
- The scope of any informal exchanges between the two governments is unclear.