The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday declined to say whether it would recall Taiwan’s ambassador to St Lucia as requested by the Caribbean country’s newly elected leader, saying only that envoys posted abroad are evaluated regularly.
“Evaluations are held on a regular basis and a personnel reshuffle will be made under necessary conditions,” said Jaime Wu (吳進木), director-general of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs.
The English-language China Post reported on Sunday that St Lucian Prime Minister Kenny Anthony had urged Taiwan to replace Ambassador Tom Chou (周台竹) after President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is inaugurated for a second term on May 20.
“I have asked for the recall of Ambassador Tom Chou ... His behavior in St Lucia over the last couple of years is unacceptable to the government of St Lucia,” Anthony was quoted by the report as saying.
“As far as we are concerned, his presence in St Lucia is not in the best interest of Taiwan and the government and people of St Lucia, at this time,” he said.
Anthony, who was elected prime minister in November last year, has accused Chou of influencing St Lucia’s elections by supporting the then-ruling United Workers Party (UWP).
He also pledged to review diplomatic relations with Taiwan after taking power.
St Lucia first established diplomatic ties with Taiwan in 1984, but switched recognition to China in 1997 after Anthony was elected prime minister for the first time. In 2007, the UWP government, which had regained power in 2006, renewed ties with Taipei.
St Lucia is one of Taiwan’s 23 diplomatic allies.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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