Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

MOFA CLOSELY MONITORS CHINA'S NEW DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE AGAINST TAIWAN

ROC Central News Agency

2005-08-02 13:39:01

    Taipei, Aug. 2 (CNA) China has launched a new diplomatic offensive against Taiwan by using its growing economic clout to sway the ROC's diplomatic allies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

spokesman Michel Lu said Tuesday.

    Speaking at a regular foreign ministry news conference, Lu said China has stepped up improving trade and economic exchanges with Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Central and South America in recent years with a view to sabotaging those countries' longstanding relationships with Taiwan.

    Lu said the foreign ministry has noticed China's new strategy and has alerted the nation's diplomatic allies to the possible pitfalls behind China's new economic-oriented diplomatic offensive.

    In the face of China's intensified efforts to "befriend" Taiwan's diplomatic allies, Lu said the foreign ministry has been striving to expand cooperation with Latin American diplomatic allies in various fields, including boosting bilateral trade and economic cooperation, increasing exchanges of visits by high-ranking government officials and assisting them in manpower training.

    Moreover, Lu said diplomatic staff stationed in those countries have been working hard to inform the political leaders, journalists and business executives that China's ultimate purpose is to sabotage their countries' longstanding friendships with Taiwan. "We have also reminded them that if China's cheap products flood their markets, their economic benefits could be at stake," Lu said.

    Latin America and the Caribbean have been Taiwan's diplomatic stronghold, with nearly a half of its diplomatic allies located in the region.

(By Sofia Wu)

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