The Barbados PM claims that Taiwanese President (pictured) is due to visit if the opposition win the election

The Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur has suggested that Taiwan intends to fund the campaign of the Democratic Labour Party ahead of next Tuesday's election.

He also claims that the DLP plans to switch diplomatic relations from rival China to Taiwan if it wins the election.

But Taiwan's ambassador in St Lucia Tom Chou has denied all the allegations.

“The government of Taiwan will never ever do such kind of thing as to provide funding to any other country’s domestic elections.

“This is totally untrue and not right. We would not do this kind of thing,” he told BBC Caribbean.

All friends welcome

On the issue of foreign relations, Mr Chou told BBC Caribbean that his country would continue to seek avenues to extend their diplomatic reach beyond the current twenty-four nations:

“Our foreign policy is very clear. We would like to make friends with those countries who (are) friendly towards Taiwan, including Barbados or other countries.”

But the alleged Taiwanese interest in Barbados ahead of the island's January 15th general election continues to be a talking point for Prime Minister Owen Arthur.

We would like to make friends with those countries who (are) friendly towards Taiwan   Taiwan's ambassador in St Lucia Tom Chou

After suggesting that Taipei is planning to fund the opposition Democratic Labour Party, Prime Minister Arthur subsequently told his BLP supporters that the Taiwanese president was planning to visit Barbados the day after the election.

He has already suggested that the opposition DLP will if it wins the election, switch diplomatic ties from China to Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Taiwan has been given a lift by the opposition in Belize which has pledged to maintain ties with Taipei if it wins the elections in CARICOM’s Central American member state.