The nation’s foreign service is to battle on in the face China’s diplomatic offensive, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lee (李大維) said yesterday, as he received the nation’s returning ambassador to Panama after the Central American country switched its alliance to Beijing last week.
“The current state of developments has clearly demonstrated that Beijing has decided to go on the offense, and in the face of this the only choice every member of the foreign service has is to face this battle head-on,” he said on arrival at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to receive former ambassador to Panama Miguel Tsao (曹立傑).
“In my view, all members of the foreign service have continued to work hard and battle on, despite the difficult situation,” Lee said. “I have come [to the airport] to represent the ministry in supporting and affirming Tsao, as well as to express consolation for some injustices to which he has been subjected.”
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
Panama broke off relations less than one month after Tsao was sent to the nation as an ambassador and before he was able to present his credentials, leading to accusations by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators that he had been sent as a scapegoat to protect former ambassador Jose Maria Liu (劉德立), who was promoted to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The loss of a second ally, after Sao Tome and Principe cut ties with Taiwan in December last year, has also renewed calls within the pan-green camp for Lee’s resignation.
Lee has served in multiple DPP administrations, but has a pan-blue background.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
“Under these difficult circumstances, as long as our president believes that I can still do something for the diplomacy of the Republic of China, that is my unshirkable duty; I am duty-bound not to turn away,” he said yesterday.
Tsao presented Lee with the Republic of China flag which had flown over the nation’s embassy, choking up briefly as he greeted the minister.
“Minister, I did not accomplish the mission you assigned and our flag has come down. However, I brought it back because we in the foreign service will continue to work hard for our nation’s honor and dignity,” he said, adding that he would “never forget” the lowering of the flag and expressing confidence that it would be raised again.
Foreign service members had continued to fight to prevent the breaking off of relations until 10 minutes before Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela’s televised announcement, he said, adding that he had not had “any hesitation” in accepting the ambassadorial post in January because it was his “dream” and “battlefield.”
Meanwhile, reports emerged yesterday that Panama has demanded that the nation’s embassy be dismantled within 30 days, rather than the two to three months proposed by the nation’s diplomatic representatives.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said that discussions on dismantling the embassy would continue, adding that appropriate measures would be taken to protect the nation’s foreign property.
The arrangement of relations and handling of unfinished projects would also be left to future bilateral talks, the ministry said, adding that “now is not the time to consider” establishing an alternative representative office in the country.
Additional reporting by Chu Pei-hsiung and Lu Yi-hsuan
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist
RSS