Taiwan's ties with Central America remain strong, as demonstrated by the attendance of the presidents of several diplomatic allies at a summit with Taiwan, President Chen Shui-bian (
Arriving in St. Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday, Chen said he was happy about the success of the Fifth Summit of the Republic of China (ROC) and Central America held on Monday in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.
The presidents of five of the nation's diplomatic allies, including Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Belize, attended the opening ceremony.
PHOTO: CNA
Chen was especially happy about the attendance of Panamanian President Martin Torrijos, who had a closed-door meeting with him and took part in the ceremony, as he said ties had become rocky last year.
"I think he is very supportive," Chen said.
According to Chen, Taiwan's relations with Panama became uncertain in September last year, when Torrijos took office.
"After the inauguration ceremony, Torrijos' best friend told me privately that Panama will cut ties with Taiwan in two months," Chen said, according to the Central News Agency.
However, relations were patched up after recent investigations showed that speculation over Taiwan's involvement in a US$1 million donation scandal with Panama's former president Taiwan was not factual.
"That's why Torrijos sent a high ranking official as his representative to visit me in Taiwan in September to assure me that his president [Torrijos] would show up at the summit," Chen said.
Chen said that Torrijos had promised to visit Taiwan during his presidency and encourage bilateral trade and investment.
Chen said that in Panama's case, Taiwan had successfully preserved the diplomatic tie by coming up with new, practical strategies that benefit both said.
Chen said that in other cases, Taiwan's recent investment initiatives in Central America, known as Jung Pang Project, which ensures US$ 250 million as a fund helping Taiwanese businessmen investing in Taiwan's friend countries in Central America.
Most importantly, Chen said that Taiwan has clarified that the fund is different from ROC-Central American Development Fund, initiated in 1998 and designed to give diplomatic allies up to US$ 240 million by 2010.
"Old-fashioned thinking doesn't work at all," Chen said.
The ROC-Central American Development Fund was initiated by former president Lee Teng-hui (
Taking Nicaragua as an example, Chen said there are many potential investment projects, including hydroelectric plant projects involving state-run Taiwan Power Company. In addition, because Taiwan will sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Nicaragua in the near future, Nien Hsing Textile Co (年興紡織) has decided to invest an additional US$120 million.
While taking a pleasure boat to enjoy scenic views of the Caribbean Sea, Chen said that Taiwan is like a boat, which has already firmly set sail.
"Unfortunately, some people have been jumping up and down on purpose to jeopardize its stability," Chen said, apparently referring to opposition parties, which discouraged his trip to Central America to secure diplomatic ties.
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