Jason Hu goes on the offensive against Soong

With the announcement of vice president Lien Chan's (3s戰) campaign team, KMT campaign manager and foreign minister Jason Hu (-J志強) threw his first punch against independent presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) yesterday, rebuking Soong's accusations of "dollar diplomacy."

"Those who are prepared to run for president should first get their facts straight," Hu said, "and not speak just to hear the sound of his own voice."

During campaign stump speeches Soong has challenged the wisdom of the proposed US$300 million in aid to Kosovo, saying it is an "embarrassment" that premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) was unable to visit the war-torn province during his visit to neighboring Macedonia in August.

Siew was forced to abandon the planned visit to Kosovo after the UN-mandated NATO force backed down on providing security guarantees due to pressure from China. Soong has also said money for foreign aid could be better used for reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the 921 earthquake.

"If we do not help others because of our own needs -- based on such logic, there would be no charities at all," Hu said.

"We are not giving away US$300 million in a lump sum," he said. "The package would probably be executed over seven years."

The foreign ministry has already briefed the Legislative Yuan on the estimated US$6.5 million budgeted for this year, Hu said.

"But so far, we have only disbursed around US$4.5 million," he said.

Around US$2 million to US$3 million was disbursed through NGOs and US$2 million was spent donating buses to Kosovo, he said. Hu said he is strongly opposed to dollar diplomacy, and warned that presidential candidates should not lie.

"I am willing to forgo diplomatic relations in order not to waste US$100 million on a certain African country," Hu said.

Taiwan broke off diplomatic relations with Central African Republic in January of 1998 when the African country asked for around US$150 million in aid.

"If you don't stop telling lies about me, I'll start to tell the truth about you," he said.

"China spends US$800 million on aid to Africa and US$1.5 billion on aid to Asia every year," Hu said.

Taiwan cannot compete with China on "dollar diplomacy" alone, Hu has said previously. What Taiwan can offer is the island's unique economic development experience.

Political analysts, meanwhile, have suggested the possibility of a detente in the cross-strait diplomatic rivalry.

"Instead of letting some countries take advantage of this diplomatic tug-of-war with China, what's more important is to have dialogue with Beijing and reach a consensus where both sides agree not to poach the other's diplomatic allies," said Shaw Chong-hai (邵宗海), professor of diplomacy at the National Chengchi University.

The resources spent on maintaining allies could be spent on internal needs, Shaw said.

"There is a difference between foreign aid and buying diplomatic relations," Shaw said.

"Foreign aid should be based on need -- for example, if there is famine or a natural disaster -- and not as a condition for diplomatic recognition."

But this solution to the foreign aid problem would depend on Beijing's willingness to back down from its hard-line position, foreign ministry officials said.