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China's isolation of Taiwan may get worse: minister

China might make further attempts to isolate Taiwan in the world's diplomatic arena after Saturday's legislative elections, Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) James Huang (黃志芳) said yesterday.

Huang said China could use any of a series of major events to increase its efforts to isolate Taiwan, such as, he said, Saturday's legislative elections, the presidential election on March 22, the presidential inauguration on May 20, or this year's Olympic Games in Beijing.

Huang said he had suggested that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) attend the inauguration of Guatemalan president-elect Alvaro Colom on Monday, although he added that Chen had not made a decision on whether he will do so.

"Even if the president decides to embark on the trip at the last minute, we have the responsibility to carry out the mission," Huang said, adding that Chen will make a final decision after conducting an overall assessment of Taiwan's diplomatic situation and after arranging transit stops in the US.

"China is very likely to deal a blow to Taiwan on the diplomatic front immediately before or after the legislative elections, especially if the president is away on an overseas trip at the time," Huang said. "Despite the high possibility of China launching a diplomatic offensive against Taiwan while Chen is abroad, the government has to make even greater efforts to reach out, which is why I strongly suggested that the president visit Guatemala."

"Taiwan must not stand still in the face of strong pressure from China, as this is exactly what China hopes for," he said.

Commenting on the state of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Malawi, Huang said he would call a news conference today to brief the public on related developments.

The media reported extensively last week that Malawi is expected to swiftly shift diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China after Huang was forced to cancel his plan to visit the country. Huang was informed at the last minute that it was "not convenient" for the Malawi government to receive him.

Speculation is running high that Malawi -- a diplomatic ally of Taiwan for 42 years -- will soon establish formal diplomatic relations with China after two Cabinet officials visited China recently.

In related news, US Representative Steve Chabot, who also serves as co-chairman of the House Congressional Taiwan Congress, and US Representative Solomon Ortiz yesterday had a short meeting with the press after visiting Huang.

Asked to comment on the government-backed referendum on seeking the country's UN membership under the name Taiwan, to which the US government is strongly opposed, Chabot said that whether to hold referendums is "up to the people of Taiwan and not anybody else" because "the people of Taiwan ought to determine their future."

Ortiz said he had a lot of respect for what Taiwan does and he believed referendum is part of the democracy.

"I think the people of Taiwan are wise and they know who to vote for. We respect the wisdom," he said when asked of his observation on Saturday's legislative elections.

Also See: EDITORIAL: China makes another miscalculation
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