President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said yesterday Taiwan would continue to strengthen diplomatic relations with Kiribati but would not oppose the Pacific nation seeking to develop unofficial ties with China.
“We [Taiwan and China] have developed tacit agreement that we will not steal each other's diplomatic allies,” Ma told visiting Kiribatian President Anote Tong at the Presidential Office.
Ma said cross-strait relations have become much warmer since he took office in 2008, which has not only benefited people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and helped ease regional tensions, but also allowed Taiwan to expand a pragmatic approach to diplomacy.
PHOTO: CNA
He told Tong, whose ancestors came from today’s Guangdong Province, that Taiwan has not interfered in Chinese fishing companies’ bid to form fisheries' cooperation with their Kiribati counterparts.
As a diplomatic ally, Taiwan is now building an international airport for Kiribati to give the island nation faster access to the rest of the world, Ma said.
Taiwan has also launched a program to allow Kiribati students to learn English and Chinese in Taiwanese colleges, he said.
Earlier in the day, Ma attended a red carpet ceremony at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Liberty Square, where Tong was welcomed with a military salute.
Tong said Taiwan is an important member of the global community and Kiribati would spare no efforts to help Taiwan join major international organizations.
Tong assumed office in early 2003 and a few months later, the nation established formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
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