Diplomatic corps needs reshuffle to retain allies

`Only major diplomatic reform can open the door for Taiwan's international survival and development. I hope that ... the public can support and participate in such reform.'

On Oct. 25, the Republic of Senegal in West Africa suddenly announced it was severing diplomatic ties with Taiwan. President Abdoulaye Wade even wrote a letter to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), stressing that "States have no friends, they only have interests." How cruel international reality is.

Taiwan has only 25 diplomatic allies now. Together, their popul-ation is less than 1 percent of the total world population. As China's economy continues to boom, it will inevitably spend even more money to lure our allies over to its side.

At the moment, our diplomatic ties with the Vatican are also shaky. The Vatican has insisted on the "one China" policy and been disrespectful of the autonomy of the people of Taiwan. Meanwhile, the nation's Catholic church has long been dominated by arch-bishops and bishops originally from China. They seldom speak for the nation's sovereignty and the people's autonomy.

Recently, the Vatican cruelly said that it hopes to establish ties with China and that Taiwan is not a problem. It is thus evident that Taiwan-Vatican relations are at risk.

Ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu (孫子) said, "In the danger of death, a person will fight for his life with all his strength." It is hoped that Chen will experience a great awakening and quickly propose effective methods to push for diplomatic reform. First, he has to carry out a major reshuffle of Taiwan's diplomatic corps overseas. He has to dismiss all diplomats clinging to the rigid "greater China" ideology, replacing them with others who have a sense of Taiwan consciousness, so as to strive for better diplomacy for the Republic of Taiwan.

For example, both Taiwan's former representative to Japan Lo Fu-chen (羅福全) and incumbent representative Koh Se-kai (許世楷) have significantly improved Taiwan-Japan relations in recent years.

Moreover, it is hoped that Chen, in the last two years of his presidency, can bravely break through the dip-lomatic deadlock and apply for UN membership in the name of "Taiwan."

Although China will certainly exercise its veto in the UN to block the application in the Sec-urity Council, the repeated rejection of Taiwan's bid to enter the world body will surely cause international attention. It will highlight the willpower and determination of the Republic of Taiwan's government and its people to protect the nation's independent sovereignty. It will also counter Beijing's brutal and ambitious legislation as embodied in its "Anti-Secession" Law.

Only major diplomatic reform can open the door for Taiwan's international survival and development. I hope that Chen can work harder to achieve this and that the public can support and participate in such reform.

William Lo is the secretary-general of the Taiwan United Nations Alliance.

TRANSLATED BY EDDY CHANG