The Vatican has long hoped to establish diplomatic relations with China, but that “could still be a long way off,” because dialogue between the two sides — let alone negotiations — has yet to develop, former ambassador to the Holy See Tou Chou-seng (杜筑生) said yesterday.
Having served as the nation’s ambassador to the Vatican, the only European state to maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan, between 2003 and 2008, Tou recently published a book The International Status of the Holy See and its Relations with China (教廷的國際地位兼論教廷與中國的關係).
At a book launch, Tou spoke about the evolution of the Vatican’s China policy and possible future of relations between the Holy See, Taiwan and China, questions he said he was often asked about.
Photo: CNA
The incident last month, in which China stripped Ma Daqin (馬達欽), the auxiliary bishop of Shanghai, of his title has brought relations between China and the Vatican to a new low, Tou said.
Ma’s ordination, with the approval of China and the Vatican, had been seen as a hopeful sign that both sides could live with the disagreement over the appointment of Chinese bishops, but that hope was dashed after Ma was placed under house arrest for publicly renouncing the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA), Tou said.
The CCPA is China’s state-run organization that controls the state-backed Catholic Church and officially represents Chinese Catholics.
China runs the country’s Catholic church independently of the Vatican, and if the situation remains unchanged, its aim of establishing ties with the papal state is “a quixotic goal,” he said.
The Vatican has long held a “one China” policy, except during a period when Pope Paul VI served as pope and advocated a “two China” policy in 1964 that would see the UN recognize the People’s Republic of China without dropping the Republic of China, Tou said.
When former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was re-elected in 2004, he had wished that the nation’s diplomatic allies could add “Taiwan” to the names of their embassy in Taipei, Tou said.
“Although the Holy See did not oppose the idea, it has never changed the name of its embassy in Taipei. It is still called the ‘Apostolic Nunciature in China,’ while Holy See secretariat of state has addressed the nation’s embassy in Vatican as the ‘Embassy of China to the Holy See’ in correspondence,” Tou said.
Tou said that he had, on various occasions, inquired with the Vatican about the possibility of it switching recognition from Taipei to Beijing, following hints by Vatican officials.
“The answer I received was always the same: That could only happen when most people in China enjoy freedom of religious beliefs,” he said.
That does not mean that the Vatican would never establish diplomatic ties with China, but the time has not yet come, he said.
In his book, Tou said that the Vatican has repeatedly promised Taiwan that the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference, informally known as the Bishops’ Conference of Taiwan, and the nation’s embassy in the Vatican will be informed of any major decision it makes on cross-strait relations.
It will not make a decision that would catch Taiwan unprepared, he said.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS