Katharine Chang (
"During the past two years, I've learned a lot. The experience as the spokesperson has enabled me to have a clearer understanding of Taiwan's diplomatic work," Chang said at a ministry press conference yesterday morning.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
Chang, the newly appointed representative to The Netherlands, also vowed to boost bilateral ties after she leaves for The Hague on Feb. 20.
The press corps surprised Chang at the press conference by giving her a birthday cake. She will soon turn 50.
When asked to make a birthday wish, the veteran diplomat, who has been with the ministry for 28 years, said it's her hope to see the country expand its diplomatic ties.
Chang also introduced Shih to the media before he held his first ministry press conference.
Shih said he would follow Chang's footsteps and do his job well and serve as the "fax machine" and "interpreter" of the nation's foreign policy.
Shih gave out his office and cellphone numbers, saying his lines are always open to the press.
Shih also said the nation's nine representative offices in the Middle East have drawn up contingency plans to cope with any scenario pertinent to a war against Iraq.
"We'll do our best to ensure the safety of our overseas nationals," he said.
Ministry statistics show there are around 3,000 Taiwanese based in the region, with around 2,500 living in Saudi Arabia.
Shih said the nation's interests would not be sacrificed by the US in exchange for China's support for Washington's possible war on Iraq, noting that US Secretary of State Colin Powell repeatedly said so.
After the press conference, Chang said that she had enjoyed herself.
"This is the most relaxing and pleasant press conference I've ever attended now that Shih is in charge of answering all the questions," she said.
In related news, DPP Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) said on Monday that Taiwan is a strong ally of the US and it is willing to meet its international responsibilities in the anti-terrorism effort.
He made the remarks in Los Angeles, where he delivered a speech on Washington's solicitation of cooperation for its anti-terrorism operations.
The DPP official said that Taipei had offered assistance to US operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan, which, he said, had won appreciation from Washington.
On the triangular relationship between the Taipei, the US and China, he said that Washington has always supported freedom and democracy, and will continue to be the fulcrum between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
The DPP official also visited the University of California at Los Angeles and met with the faculty at a seminar on Monday during which he spoke of the nation's successful transfer of political power, which he said had created a political miracle after an economic miracle.
Richard Baum, director of UCLA's Center for Chinese Studies, expressed the hope that China would follow suit so that an opposition party might one day become the ruling party.
Chang Chun-hsiung and his delegation, which includes Cabinet Secretary-General Liu Shih-fang (
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