TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's foreign ministry affirmed relations with two of its diplomatic allies, Haiti and Saint Lucia, after the Caribbean countries attended a high-level forum in China. 

Taiwan confirmed that representatives from Haiti and Saint Lucia, two of its 12 diplomatic allies, were present at the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in Beijing on Tuesday, per CNA. Taiwan said its allies had informed the foreign ministry in advance of the meeting. 

Amid concerns of Chinese pressure to win over Taiwan's allies, the foreign ministry downplayed its two allies’ attendance at the forum. It affirmed that its relationships with Haiti and Saint Lucia remain strong. 

Haiti and Saint Lucia are both members of CELAC. However, Taiwan’s other diplomatic allies with CELAC membership — including Guatemala, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Belize — did not attend the Beijing forum. 

Haiti reportedly told Taiwan that its foreign minister, Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste, was sent due to the country's membership in CELAC. According to the ministry, the diplomat from Saint Lucia, Peter Lansiquot, was not representing the government but the Saint Lucia Labour Party. 

When China was asked to comment on the two nations’ attendance, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the forum is a platform for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Caribbean countries. 

Both Haiti and Saint Lucia have attended the forum in previous years. Haiti last sent a representative in 2015, and Saint Lucia in 2018.