The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday responded to media reports accusing the nation's former ambassador to Senegal Huang Yun-cheh (
Ministry Spokesman Michel Lu (
Huang was ordered to handle affairs following the severing of ties between the two countries and to understand "what sort of tricks" Senegal's president had used to cheat Taiwan and side with China, the spokesman said.
Lu said there were three reasons Senegal had restored ties with Beijing. First, Taiwan couldn't satisfy its demand to increase aid. Second, Senegal intended to cash in on China's influence to gain a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and third, China had promised it billions of dollars of business.
Some have advocated an expansion of the UN Security Council from the current five members to 15 permanent members.
Asked whether the ministry had given Huang a light punishment, Lu said that the ambassador, who was appointed by the president, had not received another presidential appointment after the diplomatic ties were cut.
"That is considered a very serious punishment for him," Lu said.
Huang had been a political appointee since 1998, when he served as Taiwan's top representative to Switzerland. He became the nation's ambassador to Senegal in 2002.
Senegal severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan on Oct. 26. Huang was not aware that the country was re-establishing diplomatic ties with China until he received a letter intended for President Chen Shui-bian (
Huang's resignation was approved by the president on Saturday. He is close to retirement and is entitled to receive a pension.
"As far as I know, Huang hasn't applied for retirement and therefore, I don't think he is getting a pension," Lu said yesterday in response to media reports that after losing the ally, the ambassador left office with a full pension.
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