Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (
The ministry issued a press statement saying that Huang was in Chad for a two-day meeting today and tomorrow in the capital, N'Djamena.
In addition to visiting government officials there, Huang will inspect cooperative projects such as the Unity Bridge and Taiwan Boulevard, and also meet with Taiwanese ambassadors and representatives in African countries. Taiwan has six diplomatic allies in Africa: Chad, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Malawi, Swaziland and Sao Tome and Principe.
Progress reports
Huang would also hear reports on the progress of the nation's diplomatic undertaking in Africa and the challenges Taiwan faces in the region and set the direction for future strategy with the hope of upgrading efficiency and advancing relations with African countries, the ministry said.
This is Huang's first visit to Chad and the first time he has chaired such a meeting, triggering speculation that the nation's diplomatic relations with its African allies are in peril.
In the past, only vice foreign ministers acted as chair of such meetings. Foreign ministers have performed the function only when the nation's diplomatic ties with African countries were in danger.
The last foreign minister to run such a meeting was Mark Chen (
Senegal first established ties with Taiwan in 1960, but these were severed in 1964. In 1996, the two countries restored relations, which lasted until last year when Senegal switched its diplomatic allegiance to Beijing.
Speculation is mounting that Huang may take advantage of his current trip to arrange for President Chen Shui-bian (
The ministry has, however, dismissed the speculation.
Close ties
Taiwan and Chad have maintained close and cordial bilateral ties since the two countries resumed formal diplomatic relations on Aug. 12, 1997. Taiwan has sent medical and agricultural missions to the country and the state-run Chinese Petroleum Corp (
Chen first visited Chad in August 2000.
In March 2002, Chen and Chadian President Idriss Deby signed a communique in Taipei announcing that the two countries would seek to advance joint business opportunities and improve diplomatic relations.
Taiwan does not have diplomatic relations with Libya, but Chen previously announced that he had accepted an invitation from Saif Qaddafi, the third-eldest son of Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, to visit the north African state in the near future. Chen made the announcement after the two met at the Presidential Office in January.
The Libyan government, however, denied that Muammar Qaddafi had extended such an invitation and reaffirmed its commitment to the "one China" policy.
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