Last week the great and the good of the the Republic of Gambia mingled with the diplomatic representatives from the Republic of China (Taiwan). The occasion was to mark Taiwan's 96th Independence anniversary and was celebrated in sumptuous style at the Paradise Suite Hotels in Senegambia.

One could easily imagine similar events in diplomatic circles across Africa, but you would be mistaken. In the battle for diplomatic supremacy between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China (PRC) Africa, there is one clear winner and it is not Taiwan.

With its diplomatic representation limited to Burkina Faso, Gambia, Malawi, Sao Tome and Principe, and Swaziland, the reception in Gambia may well have been the high point of Taiwan's independence celebration in Africa. A marked change from the high point of the 1960's when most African nations recognised Taiwan and enjoyed warm relations with the country.

It all changed in 1971 when the United Nations recognised the People's Republic as sole legitimate government of the Chinese people and through the 70's and 80's most African countries had switched their diplomatic position. Back then China had ample supply of the political rhetoric that appealed to newly liberated Africa but was unable to back this with the economic relationship that most African nations sought, this allowed Taiwan to still maintain a fruitful but low key presence in capitals across Africa.

Come the 1990's and the the Chinese economic boom, now mainland China had the economic muscle to back the political talk and have shown themselves to have no qualms about using both. Economic teams from Beijing swept across Africa, pursuing raw materials for the growing Chinese economy in return offering investment, loans and technical assistance, eclipsing anything Taiwan had to offer.

The culmination of this trade offensive was the lavish China - Africa summit held in Beijing in November last year, with over 40 African Heads of state in attendance it was confirmation of the warm relationship the People's Republic enjoyed with Africa.

This contrasted sharply with a similar effort by Taiwan held in Taipei with the Heads of states from Swaziland, Burkina Faso, Sao Tome and Malawi as well as Gambia's Vice President. As China's share of the global economy grows the temptation for these five to stay on side with Taiwan will prove difficult to maintain.