The government is to abolish the Cabinet-level Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, many of the functions of which will be taken over by a new Taiwan-Tibet Exchange Foundation (台灣西藏交流基金會) which is to be formally established today.
The government's move makes a break with the past claims of the ROC to sovereignty over Tibet and Mongolia, a claim it backed up by retaining a Cabinet Agency to handle their affairs.
"President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and the representative of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Tashi Wangdi, will attend the founding ceremony [on Monday] afternoon of the Taiwan-Tibet Exchange Foundation," said the source, "and we believe that it will serve as an non-official communication channel, but supported by the government, between Taiwan and the Tibetan government-in-exile."
A source from the DPP's legislative caucus also told Taipei Times that a visit to the home of the Tibetan government in exile in Dharmsala, India, was being arranged for a cross-party delegation of lawmakers.
The delegation may be accompanied by Weng Shih-chieh (
The foundation will consist of government think-tank members, DPP members and private entrepreneurs familiar with Tibetan affairs.
Day Sheng-tong (
The source said that preparations for the foundation have been under way for more than a year, and funding for the foundation will come from both government and private sources.
The source stressed that since Taiwan has new channels of communications with both Mongolia and Tibet, the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission will gradually be wound down.
The commission is a legacy from the KMT government, which claimed sovereignty over China, Tibet and Mongolia.
"Taiwan and Mongolia have already set up mutual representative offices. After the foundations' inception, the commission will see its functions dwindle even further," the source said.
The commission's view of Tibet as part of China has generated a great deal of unhappiness in its dealings with the Tibetan government-in-exile, according to the source. It also created obstacles in the run-up to the Dalai Lama's two visits to Taiwan, in 1997 and 2001.
"After its inception, the foundation will take over bilateral exchanges such as religious, cultural and tourism matters," the source said. "It will also mediate disputes and handle visits by people from each side."
Since it used to regard Tibet as part of China, Taiwan used to handle visits by officials of the Tibetan government-in-exile in the same way as visits by PRC officials. This has caused tension between the two governments.
The problem was resolved after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took over issuing visas to visiting Tibetan officials.
Taiwan, however, still lacks an official entity dedicated to handling what have become extensive bilateral religious exchanges, and the new foundation is designed to fill that role. Tibetan Buddhism has attracted a significant following, in Taiwan over the past decade.
The foundation officials are optimistic about raising funds from private entrepreneurs, given the popularity of Tibetan Buddhism. The foundation's work will focus primarily on religious and cultural exchanges and humanitarian aid. It will not be involved in politics and will not become embroiled in the unification-independence issue, according to the source. The foundation's operations will include medical aid, agricultural techniques for Tibetan exiles in India, language training, academic exchanges, volunteer work and publishing.
Also see story:
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from