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Taiwan bracing for Solomons' switch

"We'll prepare for the worst, but it is still too early to speculate..."

Tien Hung-mao, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Taiwan has "prepared for the worst" regarding shaky ties with the Solomon Islands, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂) said yesterday, following speculation that Tien's Solomon Islands counterpart is currently visiting Beijing to explore the possibility of switching ties to China.

Danny Philip, the foreign minister of the Solomon Islands, was scheduled to arrive in Taipei last Friday, but failed to show up, triggering speculation that bilateral ties between the two countries may be hanging in the balance. It has been confirmed that Philip left Australia on Monday and DPP Legislator Parris Chang (張旭成) said Philip was currently visiting Beijing.

When asked if Philip was in Beijing, Tien said: "probably ... should be."

The country's ambassador to Taipei, Seth Gukuna, gave a vague answer regarding Philip's whereabouts. "All I can tell you as of now is that he is in that part of the region, but I am not sure whether he's in Hong Kong, Macao or Beijing," Gukuna told the Taipei Times.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao (朱邦造) claimed that Beijing had no idea as to Philip's whereabouts, but added that China is willing to conduct formal relations with all nations -- as long as they recognize that there is "one China."

Earlier yesterday, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare called an urgent Cabinet meeting at which relations with Taiwan were reportedly discussed. He then told Taiwan officials during a reception for Taiwan's Double Ten celebrations that ties between the two countries remained unchanged, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) officials said.

When attending the Double Ten party at the Taipei Guest House, Gukuna admitted that it wasn't until late yesterday that he had received instructions from his government regarding ties between the two countries.

When asked if Philip's visit to Beijing was a prelude to the Solomon Islands' switch of diplomatic ties to China, Tien said the foreign ministry has considered such a possibility.

"We'll prepare for the worst, but it is still too early to speculate on relations between the two countries," Tien said.

"Everything is contingent upon subsequent developments," said Joseph Shih (石定), director-general of the ministry's Department of East Asia and Pacific Affairs, who has been in close contact with Solomon Islands officials and Taiwan's embassy in that country.

Chang offered two interpretations regarding the fact that the country's foreign minister is probably visiting Beijing while the prime minister claimed that ties between the two countries remained stable.

"Maybe the foreign minister and the prime minister hold conflicting views over the issue. Or, the two are simply playing a two-man show, with the hope of squeezing more financial aid out of Taiwan," Chang said.

Chang urged Taipei to cut diplomatic ties with the Solomon Islands "which is greedy and switches back between Taiwan and China seeking aid."

Chang said the Solomon Islands has sought US$150 million from Taiwan as the condition for continuing diplomatic ties, but the size of the aid was not accepted by the ministry. Both sides so far have failed to agree on the size of the financial aid. Beijing has offered to grant US$120 million to lure the country to drop Taipei and recognize Beijing, Chang added.

Tien said continued financial assistance to the war-torn state is likely, but it should not exceed what Taiwan can afford. "As a foreign minister, I am also responsible for watching over the government's purse," Tien said.

Ministry officials said Taiwan will not be "blackmailed" by the Solomon Islands if Beijing lures the South Pacific state into its fold with dollar diplomacy.

Sources from the Solomon Islands said the political situation was very much on the brink, with political tensions among rival factions that have simmered over the last two years now coming to a boil.
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