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MOFA pooh-poohs `extortion' talk

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday dismissed speculation that political leaders from two of Taiwan's diplomatic allies visited the nation last week for the purpose of "diplomatic extortion."

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Katherine Chang (張小月) said that the visits by Nauru President Ludwig Scotty and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare were just flight transits.

Chang said that Scotty transited through Taiwan last week because he thinks highly of today' summit in Palau of leaders from Taiwan's diplomatic allies, and that it was important for him to arrive in Palau on time for the event.

"However, there is only one flight to Palau a week in Nauru and choosing to transit in Taipei was the most convenient schedule for President Scotty," Chang said.

"It is totally groundless speculation that Nauru made any extra requests from Taiwan," she said.

Chang added that Scotty stopped over in Taiwan for a personal visit and that the ministry, in line with standard operating procedure when dealing with visits by foreign heads of state, did not issue the information to the media out of consideration for the leader's privacy.

"President Scotty is considerate and did not want to disturb President Chen [Shui-bian (陳水扁)]. Therefore, the MOFA did not arrange a formal visit. Neither the president nor the [foreign minister] met Mr. Scotty," Chang said.

Chang said she had dinner with Scotty during his visit but was the only official to meet with him.

Ministry Spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍) yesterday said that it was normal for leaders of allies to have personal visits or transits in Taiwan and that the ministry would not arrange official schedules for them for this type of visit.

Lu added that it was unnecessary for the opposition parties to exaggerate the stopovers by calling them "extortion" and that such speculation might have a negative effect on Taiwan's relation with its allies.

Lu added that if the nation's allies really wanted to "extort" Taiwan, they wouldn't need to take the trouble of having their presidents visit Taiwan, but could do it through their embassies in Taiwan.

Scotty stayed in Taiwan from last Thursday through Saturday, and visited the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation in Hualien and the ceramics industry in Yingge (鶯歌), Lu said.

"President Scotty's schedule was quite simple," he added.

Sogavare, who made a stopover in Taiwan on Friday, was bound for Palau and took the same flight with Scotty yesterday, Lu said.
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