Cross-strait diplomatic battles will continue unless Taiwan and China reconcile, a senior government official said yesterday.
Commenting on Nauru's decision to switch diplomatic ties from Taipei to Beijing, the Director of Mainland Affairs Council's (MAC) Department of Planning and Research, Jan Jyh-horng (詹志宏), said that the cross-strait diplomatic war did not happen overnight, but has existed for decades.
In the past, he added, Chinese authorities have always blamed Taipei for adopting "money diplomacy," but China has proved to be the one using money to buy Nauru's diplomatic favors.
Jan made the remark while answering questions from reporters yesterday.
Nauru's move to switch its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing is reportedly based on China's promise to offer it US$60 million in financial aid as well as the promise to repay debt worth US$77 million the island owes General Electric Co.
"Now the public should know who is adopting money diplomacy," Jan said.
Jan said, "the battles of cross-strait diplomacy will not stop until both sides reconcile."
In addition, while commenting on China's criticism of President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) inauguration speech on Sunday as the new DPP chairman, Jan said Beijing's "outdated thoughts" are the major obstacles for cross-strait interaction.
In his speech, Chen called on China to respond to his goodwill, or Taiwan "would not rule out the possibility of going our own way."
China yesterday slammed Chen as "full of thoughts about independence."
Chen also mentioned in his speech that he would push the director of the party's department of Chinese affairs to make a visit to China.
In response, Jan said most former directors of the DPP Chinese Affairs Department had been in China in a private capacity before.
Cross-strait party-to-party interactions between Taiwan and China would depend on whether China gives up its "outdated thoughts," Jan said.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
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