by Rod Hughes
Despite Costa Rica’s diplomatic recognition of mainland China June 1 and the subsequent cancelation of Taiwanese aid projects in this country, the firm building the Naranjo-San Carlos highway says the construction will continue, according to the daily Al Dia. The project is important to the area for transport of agricultural produce and tourism development.
Taiwan responded on June 7 by breaking its own diplomatic ties with this country, promising to cancel a reported $70 million in soft loans and donations to Costa Rica.
But Chiang Chih-Yang, chief of the construction, said the highway, nearly 30% finished, would continue. He added that the road must be finished by April, 2010 at a total cost of $61 million, the paper reported.
Al Dia’s sources on the island nation say that Peking promised to donate to Costa Rica $130 million plus to purchase $300 million in Costa Rican bonds. Neither Peking or the Arias Administration has confirmed these figures.
Mainland China considers Taiwan a rebellious province, so Taiwan and China have been engaged in a diplomatic struggle for decades. Costa Rica’s defection leaves 24 countries that still recognise Taiwan as an independent state, half of them in Latin America and the Caribbean.

by Rod Hughes
Now is the time for sports writers to tear up the poll results and start all over again.
Costa Rica may lose by tying. They tied Haiti 1-1 Saturday after losing 2-1 against Canada Wednesday. This means to have a chance to stay in the Gold Cup soccer competition in Miami, the erstwhile favorites have to win in their match with Guadelupe Monday (today at 5 .m. Costa Rican time.) Otherwise, it’s pack your bags and go home.
But the whole tourney is registering surprises. Canada, after tromping Costa Rica Wednesday, fell to Guadelupe Saturday, 2-1, meaning that Group A has an odd look to the standings–fortunately for the Ticos. And the other favorite, once powerhouse Mexico in Group C? They fell Sunday to Honduras 2-1. Thud! (Let’s tear up those poll results into even smaller pieces…)
Meanwhile, Group B is headed by the United States with a comfortable six points. And Panama leads Group C.
Costa Rica dominated play Saturday evening, which is a little like saying “The operation was a success but the patient died.” Only Haiti’s formidable goaltender, G. Fenelon, kept the constant Tico attacks on the goal from turning the game into a rout. Then, in the second half, Walter Centeno repeated Wednesday’s feat of making Costa Rica’s only goal of the match. (What did we call Centeno in our report of the Canada game? “Ever-reliable.” Well, we got something right, at least.)
But M. Alexandre took advantage of a moment of defensive confusion to tie it all up 10 minutes later.
After the game, Costa Rican coach Hernan Medford simply said, “I was satisfied with the way we played–except for our momentary lapse of concentration on defense–but, of course, I’m not happy with the result. But the boys gave it everything they had.”