Although officials accompanying President Chen Shui-bian (
The government has responded by saying that criticism of Chen's foreign-policy efforts, especially in the face of diplomatic pressure from China, will confuse people as to whether the real enemy is China or the opposition parties.
"Diplomacy is carried out for the benefit of everyone. Outside the country, [the president] speaks for all the people. It is unthinkable that the opposition parties have not only boycotted Chen's domestic policies, but also ridicule his diplomatic efforts," Secretary-General to the President Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) told the Taipei Times.
"Some opposition figures say that it doesn't matter how many diplomatic allies Taiwan has, disregarding the support these countries have given Taiwan in the international community," Wu said.
"Now they are spouting the same kind of logic as the Beijing government. This means that, on the diplomatic battlefield, it is uncertain whether the enemy is across the Strait or in Taiwan."
PFP Chairman James Soong (
While visiting Slave Island in Senegal, the president responded by saying he couldn't understand Soong's comment about "the back of beyond."
Presidential staffers added that many of the technical and agricultural teams that are stationed in Africa were placed there by the former KMT government.
Meanwhile, Chen His-hu (陳西虎), who has been stationed in Senegal for the past 30 years and is looked upon as a father figure, was held up as an example of Taiwan's commitment to its allies.
Then there is Chen Chih-fu (陳志福), head of the medical team in Sao Tome and Principe, who has been away from home 11 years. Originally, when stationed in Bukino Faso, he established a hospital, then supervised the transfer of materials to Senegal after the break in diplomatic relations. In 1997, he set up a medical team in Sao Tome and Principe. His eldest son, 7, has stayed with him during his work in Africa.
"The work of these people has established Taiwan's diplomatic foundation. This foundation is like a tree trunk, and breaks in diplomatic relations are merely the breaking of branches, which can grow again," Chen Chih-fu said. "When ties are resumed, we will return, and things can carry on immediately."
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