Huang leaves for Africa, calls for strengthened ties

Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) will embark on a seven-day overseas visit to Taiwan's six diplomatic allies in Africa today to strengthen bilateral ties in the face of increasing diplomatic competition from China.

Huang said that while visits to Africa by high-ranking Taiwanese officials have declined in the last few years, China has significantly increased its diplomatic deployment in the continent.

"Compared to China's increased diplomatic presence in Africa, the government has relatively ignored the region in the last few years, making bilateral relations weaker than before," Huang said.

President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) last state visit to African allies was in 2002, when he visited Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Malawi and Swaziland.

Taiwan cut diplomatic relations with Senegal in October last year after the western African country switched recognition to China. Forty-seven out of Africa's total of 53 states maintain diplomatic relations with China.

The minister said China's increased power in money diplomacy -- which often took the form of low-interest loans, aid grants and infrastructure projects -- outweighed what Taiwan could offer, making it a "tough battle" for diplomatic recognition in the African states.

While Taiwan couldn't compete with China in terms of money diplomacy, Huang said, the quality of aid work it provides was relatively more enduring and sustainable than that offered by China.

The official added that Tai-wan has to develop a kind of "refined diplomacy" that focuses strategically on its its strengths and specialities.

He said that Taiwan had a comparative advantage in technological skills and medical services, which could be used to help build an Internet network for these nations and assist them in bird flu prevention among other things.

However, the minister also pointed out the difficulties of mobilizing the nation's resources to invest in Africa as any policy in a democratic polity faces public scrutiny -- something which an authoritarian regime like China wouldn't have to face.

China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have been quick to march into Africa, investing in a number of projects ranging from a local Internet network to infrastructure construction, while Taiwan's SOEs have shown a relative lack of interest to invest in the continent.

For example, Chunghwa Telecom has not shown an interest in building an Internet network in African because the Taiwanese market alone is already profitable to the company.

Chinese authorities have also stepped up high-ranking official visits to Africa with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) flying in in April this year and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) last month, signing a total of 71 communiques on mutual cooperation and investment agreements with seven African countries.

Huang will leave for Malawi this evening to attend the 40th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

The minister will also visit Swaziland, Sao Tome and Principe, Gambia, Burkina Faso and Chad. He is expected to return to the country next Thursday.