Vice President Annette Lu
(
Because of some problems surfacing in ties with Panama, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) plans to include that nation in his itinerary when visiting Central American allies in November.
High-level officials in Taiwan and Panama are currently enjoying close interactions. Panama President Mireya Moscoso was among the heads of states who attended the fourth Republic of China-Central America Summit earlier this month in Taipei.
It is perplexing, however, that Panama's vice president plans to lead a delegation on a visit to China beginning tomorrow.
Even though Panama's president and vice president hail from different political parties and the president "cannot control" the vice president's decision to make a "personal visit" in China, such a coincidence is a reminder one of the duplicitous strategy that Panama has practiced in recent years,shuttled between Taipei and Beijing to extort financial aid from both sides.
Since former president Lee Teng-hui (
Prompted by China's intimidation and incentives at that time, Panama used its conference invitation to Lee as a bargaining chip to obtain Beijing's approval for the establishment of a Panama trade office in Hong Kong. To bolster its position, Taiwan donated hundreds of thousands of US dollars to fund the canal conference and promised to take part in canal reconstruction projects and investment schemes. The overall capital spent totalled US$1 billion.
The result: Lee made his trip to Panama and the office in Hong Kong was opened. Panama killed two birds with one stone.
Panama knows little about the problems between Taiwan and China. Its "one China" stance is only a means for it to play off one side against the other. Panama has always been the winner in cross-strait diplomatic wars. As long as it has something to gain, it will voice support for Taiwan in the UN. Otherwise, it keeps silent and turns to Beijing for sweets.
After she took office, Moscoso has adopted a more or less friendly attitude toward Taiwan.
She also made it clear, however, that she will continue her predecessor's policy of dealing with Taiwan and China on the basis of separating politics from economics. Her government will also continue to develop all-round economic relations with Beijing.
Taiwan must be firm when it comes to foreign relations. Taipei is not a sugar daddy. We should never allow our diplomatic allies to demand exorbitant amounts, as if Taiwan is their automatic teller machine.
We are profoundly grateful for our allies' support. We are also willing to provide reasonable investment and financial aid. Diplomatic relations should be built on the basis of shared ideals and mutual interests. Nations should treat each other sincerely.
Taiwan should discard the myth that "the more diplomatic allies, the better." It should cautiously choose its allies. We want good friends who can help Taiwan expand its diplomatic space, safeguard its security and are conducive to the country's substantial economic and trade interests.
Parris Chang is a DPP legislator.
Translated by Jackie Lin
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (李顯龍) decision to step down after 19 years and hand power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (黃循財), on May 15 was expected — though, perhaps, not so soon. Most political analysts had been eyeing an end-of-year handover, to ensure more time for Wong to study and shadow the role, ahead of general elections that must be called by November next year. Wong — who is currently both deputy prime minister and minister of finance — would need a combination of fresh ideas, wisdom and experience as he writes the nation’s next chapter. The world that
Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, people have been asking if Taiwan is the next Ukraine. At a G7 meeting of national leaders in January, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warned that Taiwan “could be the next Ukraine” if Chinese aggression is not checked. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that if Russia is not defeated, then “today, it’s Ukraine, tomorrow it can be Taiwan.” China does not like this rhetoric. Its diplomats ask people to stop saying “Ukraine today, Taiwan tomorrow.” However, the rhetoric and stated ambition of Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) on Taiwan shows strong parallels with