President Chen Shui-bian (
The president will not make a stopovers in nations which do not recognize Taiwan throughout the trip except to refuel the plane in the Middle East, said Deputy Secretary-General to the President Joseph Wu (
"As to the refueling of the plane, the government has authorized China Airlines to work out the details according to international aviation regulations," Wu said.
"We will not reveal the refueling site because we have to protect the president," Wu added.
Wu held the press conference yesterday afternoon at the Presidential Office together with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Chiou Jong-nan (
Chen's entourage will consist of around 110 people.
Chiou said Taipei had negotiated with what he called "certain countries" for stopovers, but no agreements were reached.
Some delayed their responses, while others expressed concerns that it would be inconvenient for them to grant Chen a stopover due to their own interests, Chiou said.
When asked whether the efforts of Taipei to secure a stopover in nations which do not recognize Taiwan resulted from cross-strait tensions, Chiou denied the linkage.
"It's purely due to considerations in these particular countries," Chiou said.
"The government decided on the night of June 8 that the trip wouldn't have any stopovers," Chiou said. The trip is Chen's second since his inauguration in May of 2000.
Reliable government sources said the chance to secure stopovers in Europe largely evaporated as soon as the Chinese embassy in Prague, holding a related report from Taipei which mentioned that the Czech Republic was a possible stopover for Chen, made a stark protest to the Czech foreign ministry.
The Czech foreign ministry then showed the report to Taipei's top representative to Prague Roy Wu (烏元彥). Wu said the report was purely media speculation, a government source said.
Prior to the report, the response from Czech President Vaclav Havel with regard to Chen's stopover in Prague was that he would "give favorable consideration" to the arrangement, the source said.
With regard to the purpose of Chen's upcoming trip, Wu said: "The trip is to consolidate the friendly ties between Taiwan and its allies."
Chen's trip to the African countries was to reciprocate visits by his counterparts from these states to Taiwan during his presidency and to echo related invitations by African leaders, Wu said.
Chen and his entourage also plan to review the results of the social and economic assistance Taiwan has offered to these countries as various medical, agricultural and technical missions from Taipei are stationed in them, Wu said.
Chen's upcoming visit to Africa, Wu said, was also to showcase "Taiwan's spirit of volunteerism," as many voluntary workers from Taiwan have traveled to the countries Chen will visit.
Chen will spend time visiting some of the volunteers, including some young men that have been serving their two-year "diplomatic alternative service" in countries such as Malawi, Wu added.
A two-year-old China Airlines A300-340 Airbus will be used for the trip as some of the airports that Chen will visit are unable to receive large planes, Chiou said.
The recent fever over the World Cup could also spill over into Chen's trip, as he plans to exchange his experiences watching the games with his counterpart from Senegal, the only African country to qualify for the second round of the World Cup, sources said.
Chen will donate 400 soccer balls to children in Senegal, as well as watch a soccer game to be played by elementary school students, Wu said.
"We plan to donate 400 match balls. However, so far we've only bought over 100 or so, as a majority of the balls produced in our country have been exported," Chiou said. "So I'd like to urge everyone to tell us where to buy more match balls."
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