Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate Tien Hung-mao (
"When the new administration takes office, we will follow set procedures to reexamine these more sensitive policies," he told reporters after a meeting with Premier-designate Tang Fei (唐飛). "But a lot of policies have continuity," Tien added.
Taiwan's annual drive to enter the UN has been a key foreign policy under outgoing President Lee Teng-hui (
As to which area of Taiwan's foreign policy will be adjusted according to the new government's different policy direction, Tien said: "It's too early to say right now."
Putting a seemingly zen-like spin on Taiwan's "pragmatic diplomacy," Tien said he would carry on the policy by "doing whatever we can do but not dwell on what we cannot do."
An expert on international relations, Tien currently heads the Institute for National Policy Research (INPR), a private think tank funded by the Evergreen Group.
He is also a long-time advisor to President Lee and a member of the National Reunification Council.
"Cross-strait and foreign relations are not like a simple mathematical equation. I don't particularly lean toward one side," Tien said.
"The two may not necessary be in conflict, they can be complimentary."
China unleashes a verbal onslaught whenever Taiwan wins any form of international support from foreign countries or painstakingly establishes formal relations.
Policymakers here are forced to execute a cautious balancing act between cross-strait and foreign policies.
Tien, who comes from an academic background, is expected to be more flexible in his foreign policy approach than the diplomatic establishment.
He is a proponent of "track two diplomacy" where non-government officials meet regularly to exchange ideas on policies.
As the president of the INPR, Tien has spoken extensively at international conferences explaining Taiwan's "state-to-state" model of cross-strait relations and has recently returned from a trip to the US having given several speeches about the new government.
Personally confirming that he is to take up office as foreign minister yesterday, Tien told reporters he is to meet with outgoing foreign minister Chen Chien-jen (程建人) -- who will be Taiwan's chief representative to the US -- and other ministry officials, to familiarize himself with the operations of his new post.
"I will have another opportunity to fully explain what adjustments will be made, but give me some time first," he said.
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