China–Liberia relations refer to the bilateral relations of the People's Republic of China and Liberia. Official relations began in 1977, but were broken on multiple occasions, only to be reformed later on. As of 2009, significant amounts of both investment and foreign aid came from China to Liberia.

History Relations between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Liberia have been broken and reestablished several times since February 17, 1977, when diplomatic relations between the PRC and Liberia were first formed.Taiwan as an Emerging Foreign Aid Donor: Developments, Problems, and Prospects, Gerald Chan; Pacific Affairs, Vol. 70, 1997 The PRC broke off relations with Liberia on October 10, 1989, in response to Liberia's recognition of the Republic of China (Taiwan).Taiwan Edges Out China for Liberia's Diplomatic Recognition, Global News No. GL970-25, February 21, 1997 Taiwan had offered $200 million in aid to Liberia for education and infrastructure in exchange for this recognition. The PRC reestablished relations with Liberia on August 10, 1993, and opened an embassy in Monrovia, making Liberia one of the few nations which established diplomatic ties to both the PRC and ROC.Cross-Strait Scramble for Africa, A Hidden Agenda in China-Africa Cooperation Forum, Harvard Asia Quarterly, Volume V, No. 2. Spring 2001 The first Liberian ambassador to China was John Daniel Cox, from 1977 to 1981.Elwood D. Dunn, Amos J. Beyan, Carl Patrick Burrowes (2000). Historical Dictionary of Liberia, pp. 91-92

In 1997, Charles Taylor's government proclaimed to recognize "two Chinas" and the PRC subsequently severed diplomatic relations.Relations, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Liberia In addition, following the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, Liberia's consulate, established during British rule, was forced to close.Liberian consulate forced to close, South China Morning Post, 10 Oct 1997

Liberia dropped diplomatic relations with the ROC on October 12, 2003, and reestablished ties with the People's Republic of China.China, Liberia resume diplomatic ties , Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People's Republic of China This move was seen largely as a result of the PRC's lobbying in the UN and plans to deploy a peacekeeping force in Liberia.Taiwan plays down Liberia blow, BBC News Online, 13 October 2003

During the Ebola outbreak in western Africa, Liberia was one of the countries to which China's People's Liberation Army provided medical personnel.

Economic relations From 2000 to 2011, there are approximately 68 Chinese official development finance projects identified in Liberia through various media reports.Austin Strange, Bradley C. Parks, Michael J. Tierney, Andreas Fuchs, Axel Dreher, and Vijaya Ramachandran. 2013. China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection. CGD Working Paper 323. Washington DC: Center for Global Development. These projects range from renovating and constructing the Fendell Campus for Engineering of the University of Liberia,Strange, Parks, Tierney, Fuchs, Dreher, and Ramachandran, China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection. to a US$10 million contract with the Government of Liberia for the construction of a 100 bedroom hospital in Nimba County in 2008.Strange, Parks, Tierney, Fuchs, Dreher, and Ramachandran, China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection.

Political relations Liberia follows the one China principle. It recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole government of China and Taiwan as an integral part of China's territory, and supports all efforts by the PRC to "achieve national reunification". It also considers Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet to be China's internal affairs.

Cultural relations In October 2009, the Chinese embassy in Monrovia opened language Chinese language courses for Liberians. The need for such courses was due to the growing business relations and the lack of Chinese speakers among Liberian citizens. The Liberians hoped to work for and study in China.

See also Sino-African relations

References