As President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) returned from his tour to six of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, lawmakers and analysts yesterday urged the government to be more transparent in its foreign aid policies.
Those calling for such a change wish to dispel speculation that Chen is merely following in the footsteps of his predecessor, who was widely accused of conducting "money diplomacy."
During a panel discussion in the legislature yesterday, lawmakers voiced mixed views of Chen's tour to Taiwan's six Central American and African diplomatic allies. Whether Chen had given too much money to these allies became the focus of criticism, with many harboring suspicions of so-called "dollar diplomacy" being used to gain international recognition. According to Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆), convener of the New Party legislative caucus, Chen offered a total of US$2.8 billion to Taiwan's allies in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Burkina Faso during his trip.
"The total amount of cash promised is not that significant. But Chen's move goes nowhere toward dispelling speculation that Taiwan has long been conducting `dollar diplomacy' and that Chen is no different from his predecessor in this regard," Lai said.
Even DPP lawmakers urged the new government to think twice about whether it should pursue "dollar diplomacy," of which the previous administration was often accused, as its method of decision making about Taiwan's foreign aid schemes. It is an approach which has often been criticized as "problematic" and "unaccountable."
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA) monetary aid to our allies has drawn severe criticism in the past. The new government still regards foreign aid as an effective avenue for diplomacy. It shouldn't inherit all the strategies of its predecessor," said DPP Legislator Parris Chang (張旭成).
DPP Legislator Tsai Ming-shian (
"MOFA should monitor how foreign aid grants have been utilized. It should also establish systems for the rational planning and transparent execution of these schemes," Tsai said.
Taiwan's lawmakers are not alone in calling into question Chen's trip as far as "dollar diplomacy" is concerned. During Chen's visit to Nicaragua, the local media lambasted both Taiwanese and Nicaraguan officials for engaging in such diplomacy, putting into the spotlight Taiwan's reputation as a proponent of this approach. MOFA officials, however, said the ministry has already started to improve its foreign aid operations.
"Enhancing transparency and accountability in these foreign aid schemes will become the focal point of our efforts in the granting of foreign aid," said Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政), chairman of MOFA's Research and Planning Board.
Foreign Minister Tien Hung-mao (
Analysts urged MOFA to take these concerns about its current foreign aid programs seriously.
"MOFA officials should reflect whether the criticism results from MOFA's lack of sufficient communication with the public to persuade people of the legitimacy of these foreign aid schemes or whether it is simply due to pitfalls in the execution of its policies," said Joanne Chang (
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