Yang Rung-tsao (
"Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (
Chang's initial response to a question in this regard from the Taipei Times during an earlier press conference had been to decline to confirm whether Yang was on vacation or not.
The foreign ministry later confirmed that the ministry on Sept. 5 approved Yang's application for annual leave from Sept. 14 to Sept. 23. Despite the terrorist attacks in the US on Sept. 11, Yang traveled to Europe together with, in his words, "relatives and friends," as scheduled.
The Taipei Times yesterday contacted Yang in Budapest, Hungary. He said he had booked a late night flight to Israel after receiving Tien's instruction and was scheduled to reach Israel around 3am local time today.
Yang said the Sept. 11 terrorist attack was "a significant event" and that Taiwan's representative office in Israel had "even come up with a contingency plan."
"But after I saw that the US launched a diplomatic effort, I came to the conclusion that it was unlikely that they would mobilize the [militarily] for a little while yet, so I took my vacation, with prior approval of the ministry and I kept on contacting the office twice a day," Yang said.
When asked whether his absence from Tel Aviv during a time of rising tension in the region would result in his being disciplined by the ministry, Yang responded candidly. "If there is any punishment, I feel no qualms about explaining myself. A government has to have its disciplinary measures but we should be notified [of them] in advance," Yang said. "I did not leave my post without asking for leave, nor was I deaf to instructions," Yang said.
Yang's absence from Tel Aviv was first revealed by the Taipei Times yesterday, prompting debate in local media about who was to blame.
Foreign ministry regulations governing leave of absence state that any head of an overseas representative office or embassy should have their request for leave approved prior to their departure.
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