Diplomats: Taiwan to break ties with Malawi

TAIPEI -- Taiwan will break diplomatic ties with the African nation of Malawi, three Taiwanese diplomats said Monday.

The diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement of the break had not yet been made, did not specify a reason for the action.

However, Beijing is believed to be close to cementing ties with Malawi, after two senior Malawian diplomats visited Beijing last month.