Foreign Minister Tien Hung-mao (
"We don't need to play a zero-sum game [with China]," Tien told legislators during a question-and-answer session. "I would not rule out calling a truce to such diplomatic competition."
But Tien stressed that the initiative to call off the diplomatic tug-of-war between the two sides of the Strait must be initiated by both sides and not by Taiwan alone.
"This is a gesture of goodwill to Beijing," Tien said, after KMT legislator Chen Shei-saint (
Chen pressed further by asking whether Tien would take up the issue with Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (
Tien said he would discuss the issue with Tien but also said Taiwan will continue to maintain ties with its diplomatic allies and push for more international space.
"The zero-sum diplomatic game is caused by China," Tien said.
"However, under the new government's policy to defuse cross-strait tension and resume dialogue, relations would have to be improved on all fronts, including foreign policy," Tien said
"I hope China will make a formal response to the suggestion of a diplomatic truce," Tien said.
The foreign minister stressed the importance of both foreign and cross-strait policies, saying "they are like one's right and left arms." But Tien said Taiwan has neither the capability nor the influence to declare a diplomatic truce with China unilaterally.
"If Beijing is willing to show some goodwill toward us in international forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation [APEC] forum or the World Health Organization [WHO] ... we can form a cooperative relationship," Tien said, reiterating his previous suggestion that China is best engaged through international organizations.
Tien's remark triggered a flood of criticism from DPP and opposition lawmakers during the question-and-answer session.
DPP lawmaker Hong Chi-chang (
"How can we call a truce when China blocks our participation in humanitarian events," Hung said, referring to an incident last week when Beijing used political pressure to evict Taiwan from a UN-sponsored trade fair on humanitarian assistance in New York.
DPP party whip Cheng Bao-ching (
"We are very supportive of this policy. This doesn't mean Taiwan is not seeking more diplomatic allies, but a cutback in negative diplomatic competition," Cheng said.
Meanwhile, the "China factor" continues to be felt in Taiwan's diplomacy as the Japanese government last week rejected Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄), secretary general of the Presidential Office to serve as the government's envoy to attend the funeral of Japan's former prime minister Keizo Obuchi.
"We will formally express our regret through the appropriate channels," Tien said.
Senior Presidential Adviser Peng Min-ming (
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