The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday downplayed a comment by Pope Francis that he would like improved relations with China and to visit the country, saying it is confident that the “feelings of Taiwanese” would be factored into the Vatican’s dealings with Beijing.
“Bilateral relations between the Republic of China and the Holy See have a long history, and are solid and stable,” ministry spokesperson Eleanor Wang (王珮玲) said when asked if the ministry was worried about ties with the Vatican.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Vice President Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) and Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin (林永樂) have visited the Holy See, where they received a high-level reception, she said.
That many of the Vatican’s pontifical councils and charity organizations often choose Taiwan to hold international events also proves that relations are close and strong, Wang said.
Pope Francis on Monday said he would “very much like so much to go to China” during an interview on his flight back to Rome after wrapping up a visit to the UN.
“I love the Chinese people and I hope there is the possibility of having good relations. We’re in contact, we talk, we are moving forward, but for me to have as a friend a great country like China, which has so much culture and has so much opportunity to do good, would be a joy,” he said.
The pope’s comments renewed intermittent rumors that the Vatican plans to break off diplomatic relations with Taipei.
The ministry has been monitoring dialogue between the Holy See and China, as well as other related developments, Wang said, adding that Taiwan has maintained close and smooth contacts with the Vatican.
“The ministry understands that the Holy See intends to open talks with China because it aspires to promote evangelization and in turn facilitate freedom of religion in China,” she said. “We also believe that it will adhere to its religious values and principles, as well as attach great importance to its friendship with diplomatic allies and the feelings of Taiwanese when forging relations with China.”
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost