Taiwan to aid East Timor

Taiwan will join the international community in helping the people of East Timor rebuild their homeland, although the chances of securing diplomatic relations with the newly born country are slim, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Chang Siao-yue (張小月) said Taiwan would like to cooperate with East Timor to improve stability in the region. However, she said that Taipei had approached the authorities in Dili on the possibility of exchanging diplomatic recognition but to no avail. Dili, which needs Beijing's support in its efforts to enter the UN and to keep UN peacekeeping forces there, has said it wants to set up ties with China. Xinhua news agency said China had become the first country to forge official ties with East Timor.