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Thailand's visa refusal angers KMT legislator

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Bill Sun (孫國華) yesterday blasted Thailand's refusal to issue Taiwanese officials visas for fear of displeasing China and demanded an official apology.

At a press conference held at the legislature, Sun said Thailand's Trade and Economic Office in Taipei twice turned down his application for a visa in July, forcing him to cancel a planned trip to attend a conference in Bangkok last month.

According to the lawmaker, he was not the only Taiwanese official who had been denied a visa. Thailand recently rejected visa the applications of Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) and Council of Labor Affairs Chairwoman Chen Chu (陳菊).

Chen, Sun said, was planning to join a conference on labor in Thailand this month.

"Why is Thailand afraid of issuing visas for Taiwanese officials? Is it afraid that by doing so it will anger China? Is Thailand China's lackey?" Sun said.

The lawmaker asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to arrange a meeting between him and Thailand's representative to Taiwan, Nualpan Mahakun, to discuss the visa issue last Friday. The meeting, however, did not take place.

"Ministry officials told me they couldn't arrange the meeting. The ministry should protest firmly to Thai officials. The Thailand Trade and Economic Office here should apologize to Taiwan," Sun said.

If no apology is given, Sun said he will stage a demonstration in front of the Thailand Trade and Economic Office protesting what he called the country's discrimination against Taiwan.

"Many Taiwanese tourists travel to Thailand every year. Our government imports a lot of workers from Thailand. Both help Thailand's economy a great deal. Thailand, however, still treats Taiwan unfairly," he said.

Sun also urged the public not to travel to Thailand and said he will request the government reduce the number of Thai workers if Thailand does not apologize.

Ministry spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍) promised yesterday the ministry would let related Thai officials know Sun's opinion.

"We hope Taiwan and Thailand can work through this issue. We hope the two countries can improve ties," Lu said.

Sun said he revealed the incident to the media because his request that the ministry speak to Thai officials on his behalf apparently went nowhere.

Thailand and Taiwan have maintained at best shaky relations. Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) once labelled Thailand as an "unfriendly nation."

The Thailand Trade and Economic Office officials were not available for comment yesterday.
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