Minister defends Taiwan's foreign aid policy

Taiwan's foreign aid is as transparent as it can be and the public should look at it as a national security issue, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新) said on Monday.

"All the government's foreign aid is transparent because every single penny has to be reviewed and approved by the Legislative Yuan before it is spent," Chien told reporters in Costa Rica while waiting for a chartered plane to Belize.

The government had a legitimate reason for not revealing the budgets for foreign aid, he said, especially those not earmarked for the forthcoming fiscal year.

"It's easy for those countries to which we intend to provide foreign aid to make comparisons if we disclose the information in advance," Chien said. "Besides, it's not a good idea to let our Chinese counterpart know about our price tag as it [China] doesn't have legislative or public oversight over its use of money."

Chien spoke in response to media criticism that the government is secretive about its foreign aid programs until the details are revealed in international media.

Costa Rican media reported on Monday that Taiwan will donate US$15 million to help Costa Rica build the US$50 million San Carlos highway in addition to an already disclosed US$35 million loan.

Meanwhile, Chien expressed his support for a proposal that the government should set up a fund to offer loans to Taiwanese businessmen interested in investing in the country's diplomatic allies.

"There are two main purposes to establishing diplomatic ties: diplomatic and economic. Successful diplomacy will strengthen a country's economic power and vice versa," Chien said.

"It's indeed a good idea for the government to work more closely with the private sector in terms of expanding its diplomacy. I think the proposal is feasible and the ministry will start evaluating the possibilities," he said.

Day Sheng-tong (戴勝通), chairman of the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, made the proposal on Saturday, and it immediately won Premier Yu' Shyi-kun's support.

Chien also clarified media speculation that some officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be reassigned.

"The public shouldn't be surprised to see officials of the foreign affairs ministry get new assignments since it's a norm for them to serve at their posts for a fixed period, which is a well-established and universal system," Chien said.

Feng Chi-tai (馮寄台), director general of the ministry's protocol department, who will likely become ambassador to Malawi, also suggested that the speculation was true.

"It's inappropriate for me to say anything about it now," he told the Taipei Times in Costa Rica. "However, the speculation is not far from the truth."