MOFA still in dark on Solomons

"Beijing has made some major moves and the ministry is watching closely," said foreign affairs spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政).

The ministry has maintained close and direct contacts with the Solomon Islands' prime minister's office, and Sogavare had assured the ministry ties between the two countries would remain unchanged, officials said.

Lucian Kii also denied that Beijing had offered financial aid to the country in order that it switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei.

"That is speculation. As far as the foreign ministry is concerned, we are not aware of this having happened," Kii said.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Tzu-dan (吳子丹), who was supposed to meet Philip in Taipei yesterday, failed to return to Taiwan from his foreign trip as originally scheduled.

The ministry would not reveal details of Wu's whereabouts, though some say Wu is overseas dealing with affairs related to the Solomon Islands.