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Lawmakers question Mongolian ties

"The result can be seen, however, in the long-run as both parties continue negotiating and developing issues and programs that are favorable to our economy."

Eugene Chien, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Lawmakers across party lines yesterday questioned the Ministry of Foreign Affair's decision to exchange a representative office with Mongolia.

"Given the fact that Mongolia is a land-locked country and thus part of its main door to the outside world can be cut at any time by its giant neighbor China, how much substantial economic and trade benefits will Taiwan gain after the decision to exchange representative offices with Mongolia?" asked DPP lawmaker Parris Chang (張旭成) at the Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee in the legislature.

Chang's question was among those asked by members of the committee, challenging Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien's (簡又新) report on bilateral relations with Mongolia after the two parties exchanged representative offices.

In an effort to promote bilateral relations, Taiwan and Mongolia reached an agreement to open representative offices in each other's capitals starting Sept. 1.

Taiwan has already opened its representative office in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, early in September, while that of Mongolia -- originally set to open in Taipei tomorrow -- has been delayed to later this year due to scheduling issues on the side of Mongolian representatives.

Aside from Chang, DPP Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and KMT Legislator Chiang Yi-wen (江綺雯) also expressed doubt on whether there will be any substantial economic gain in the arrangement for Taiwan.

In his response, Chien said that substantial economic and trade gains with Mongolia will not be seen right away as the ministry has just set up its representative office in Mongolia two months ago.

"The result can be seen, however, in the long-run as both parties continue negotiating and developing issues and programs that are favorable to our economy," Chien said.

Chien added that direct flights between Taiwan and Mongolia and the establishment of a Taiwan-Mongolia Free Trade Zone are among the agendas the ministry is working on in regard to future bilateral relations with Mongolia.

Chang also questioned Chien on why Mongolia became a priority for exchanging representative offices over other countries, such as North Korea.

In response, Chien said that that wasn't the issue, "for it has been the ministry's consistent goal to establish relations with every Asia country." Chien said.

Saying that Mongolia has vast natural resources, Chien said that via the exchange of representative offices, it can also help offer a new venue for Taiwanese businessmen.

Noting Mongolia's geological setting, Chang asked Chien whether countering China played into the decision behind the establishment of Taiwan's bilateral relations with Mongolia.

"Economic and cultural exchanges are the reasons behind our exchange of representative offices with Mongolia," Chien said, adding that military defense has so far not been a consideration behind the ministry' establishment of bilateral relations with Mongolia.
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