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Improved ties with PRC benefits world: Ma

Taiwan’s allies greatly benefit from nation’s improved relations with Beijing, said President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday, adding that a “diplomatic truce” with Beijing meant Taiwan could pool additional resources into solidifying ties with its 23 allies.

Speaking at a reception in Taipei to celebrate the 187th anniversary of the independence of Central America, Ma said the international community — not just Taiwan alone — has benefited from the improvement in Taiwan’s relations with China.

“In the spirit of reconciliation and diplomatic truce, we hope to terminate the diplomatic confrontation with communist China,” Ma said.

“By doing so, we [Taiwan] can allocate more energy and resources to continue to foster and cement our close ties with existing allies,” the president said.

Honduran Ambassador Marlene Villela-Talbott, who also doubles as the president of Pro Tempore of the Central American Integration System Group in Taiwan, thanked Taiwan for its long-standing support and urged Ma to encourage more Taiwanese businesspeople to invest in the region.

Ma recently returned from a five-day trip to South and Central America last month to attend the inauguration of Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo and Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez.

Shortly after Ma’s return, Lugo elaborated on his pro-China stance in a television interview, saying Asuncion would break its usual practice by not supporting Taiwan’s UN bid this year.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly said that Lugo’s refusal to back Taiwan’s bid is not an indication of crumbling bilateral ties.

At the reception, the master of ceremonies accidentally mispronounced Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou’s (歐鴻鍊) last name and called him “Minister Hung.”

He then referred to Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) as the premier.

The celebration was co-hosted by Nicaraguan Ambassador William Tapia, Honduran Ambassador Marlene Villela-Talbott, Guatemalan Ambassador Ivan Espinoza Farfan and Salvadoran Ambassador Santana Berrios.

In related news, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Hou (侯清山) confirmed yesterday that Judicial Yuan President Lai In-jaw (賴英照) would be the president’s special envoy to attend the 25th national independence celebration in St. Kitts and Nevis.

The occasion will also mark a quarter of a century of friendship between Taiwan and the Caribbean country.
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