The nation's Catholic priests and government officials said diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the Holy See will not be affected by the death of Pope John Paul II, while admitting that the Vatican is eager to establish official relations with China.
Asked whether the Pope's death would change Taiwan's relations with its only diplomatic ally in Europe, Archbishop Joseph Cheng (
But John Paul II's opposition to abortion posed one of the major difficulties in the Vatican's efforts to improve relations with China, whose one-child policy often led to compulsory abortion and sterilization, Cheng said.
The Holy See, though keen on establishing diplomatic relations with Beijing, will maintain its principle of not cutting ties with its allies.
"It will never propose severing ties with Taiwan," Cheng said. "It is natural that the Vatican hopes to take care of the people on other side [of the Taiwan Strait] and the 12 million Catholics there. The purpose of the church is to shepherd people in every corner of the world."
But the Vatican has already downgraded its relations with Taipei once. In 1980 it recalled its last ambassador to Taiwan, and its hasn't sent another since. Instead it has sent a succession of lower-ranked representatives.
The Vatican's embassy in Taipei offered a book of condolences for people to sign their names in remembrance of John Paul II. The address of the embassy is 87 Aikuo East Road.
Government officials yesterday visited the embassy to pay their tribute to the Pope. The embassy is closed today for Tomb-Sweeping Day and will reopen tomorrow for foreign diplomats to sign the book of condolences. The general public can sign the book on Thursday and Friday.
Monsignor Ambrose Madtha, the Holy See's representative to Taipei, said that the book of condolences will be sent to the Vatican for collection.
The Archdiocese of Taipei will hold a memorial mass for the Pope at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Taipei at 5pm tomorrow.
Cardinal Paul Shan (
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS