Taiwan's foreign minister dismissed a newspaper report yesterday claiming that the Vatican was expected to switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China "very soon" as Beijing stepped up efforts to squeeze Taipei's international space.
Ambassador to the Roman Catholic Church Raymond Tai (
But foreign minister Chen Chien-jen (程建人) told reporters yesterday in Palau -- where he was wrapping up an official visit -- that such a scenario was unlikely.
"I have not seen any reports or information regarding the PRC's establishment of diplomatic relations with the Vatican before I left for Palau," Cheng said. "Our understanding is that they [Beijing and the Holy See] each have their own positions, and that unless there is a major change or abandoning of its position, that would still take a while."
Chen was also quick to point out the obstacles faced by both China and the Vatican if they wished to do so.
"Beijing insists that the Vatican first sever relations with the ROC, and maintains the right to name its own bishops. But the Vatican's position is to maintain religious freedom and have the right to name its bishops," Cheng said.
Chen is expected to return to Taiwan today after a four-day visit to Palau, which established formal relations with Taipei late last year.
Ambassador Tai was quoted as saying yesterday that rumors about improved relations between the Vatican and China "were not groundless or baseless."
"There is little we can do regarding the attempt at normalizing Vatican-Beijing ties. The Vatican has made its decision that it wants the ties," he was quoted as saying.
Vice foreign minister David Lee (
He said Tai had been misquoted, without elaborating on what the envoy had told the newspaper.
But Lee conceded the diplomatic tussle had become so vigorous that Taiwan has "to step up efforts to cement ties with the Holy See."
"It is still not clear who is going to win the diplomatic battle," Lee said. "Religious freedom and the Holy See's right to ordain Catholic bishops in the mainland remained major barriers ... and these problems are not expected to be resolved easily."
The Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, confirmed last month that an unofficial channel of communication had been opened up.
The new arrangement would allow the Vatican and Beijing "to seek out ways to clarify our respective positions," he said.
Beijing has said the Vatican must sever its diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and stop interfering in what it said was China's internal affairs through religious activities if the links are to be normalized.
Two Catholic churches co-exist in China.
The official one, which pledges allegiance to the Communist Party, has around 4.5 million members, according to Beijing, and does not recognize the Pope's authority.
The other, clandestine, Church is loyal to the Pope and counts about the same number of adherents.
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