Taiwan hoping for ties with Bolivia, Ecuador

Taiwan is looking to establish relations with "five to 10 new countries," including Bolivia and Ecuador, lawmakers quoted Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂) as saying yesterday during a closed-door meeting at the Legislative Yuan.

New Party legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) said yesterday that Tien told lawmakers that Taiwan has been talking with five to 10 countries.

When DDP Legislator Cheng Pao-ching (鄭寶清) asked Tien to identify the countries, Tien named Bolivia and Ecuador, Lai told the Taipei Times.

But Tien's admission to legislators was apparently a mistake.

According to Lai, officials within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have asked Tien not to reveal any more details about the talks.

"Tien only said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on it," Lai said. "He didn't say that Taiwan was to establish ties with these countries soon."

Tien declined to confirm Lai's statement, saying he was not entitled to comment on issues discussed during the closed-door meeting.

Ministry officials said that details about talks with potential diplomatic allies couldn't be discussed openly.

"It is necessary to maintain confidentiality regarding any of our moves to establish new diplomatic ties with other countries," said Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政), chairman of the ministry's research and planning board.

"Any revelation beforehand can only make the work difficult. It's impossible for the foreign minister to reveal these things in public."

Meanwhile, Tien conceded to lawmakers that Taiwan's relations with the Solomon Islands were shaky following confirmation that the country's foreign minister, Danny Philip, is visiting Beijing to explore the possibility of switching ties, legislators said.

Tien said the Solomon Islands claims that Philip went to Beijing in a personal capacity and was not representing his country on an official visit.

But Tien stressed that Taiwan is preparing for the worst, although it's too early to speculate whether the Solomon Islands will dump Taiwan for China.

Lai said Tien confirmed that the Solomon Islands has requested US$20 million in aid from Taiwan to help with the country's rehabilitation programs following a two-year civil conflict.

But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs turned down the request, saying it couldn't afford to donate so much cash aid.

Taiwan currently has formal ties with 29 countries, most of them in Africa and Central America.