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TAIWAN SHOULD SEEK OWN WAY AS CHINA KEEPS SUPPRESSING IT: OFFICIAL

ROC Central News Agency

 Paris, Aug. 30 (CNA) Taiwan's top envoy to France said Wednesday that if China keeps suppressing Taiwan internationally, Taiwan should find its own way to promote "substantive diplomacy."

    Yang Tzu-pao, who will assume the post of vice foreign minister in Taipei Sept. 15, said that in order to carry out substantive diplomacy, he would prioritize national security and development over national dignity.

    In an exclusive interview with CNA, Yang said that whenever Taiwan tries to participate in an international activity that involves "national" status, China will try to block the island country. "We should pursue overall diplomacy, and not limit ourselves to engaging in political activities. Rather, we could try to interact with other countries in educational, scientific, cultural and other areas," he said.

    He continued that in all these domains, Taiwan's participation will help the world community better understand Taiwan and to interact more effectively with it. Through this process Taiwan can make its own contributions to the world.

    For example, he said, the government can encourage the academic and business sectors to participate in international conferences or hearings that do not involve state-to-state relations.

    For the business community, they could use the international context to expand their business opportunities; academics can raise their profiles as they make professional contributions to the international community, he said.

    Therefore, Yang added, "I think both the businesspeople and academics would like to join non-governmental international forums."

    The engineer-turned-politician said Taiwan will not be excluded from international forums on environmental protection, sustainable development and information technology -- issues regarded as important in this era of globilization -- if it seeks to participate.

    Even though China spares no effort to obstruct Taiwan's participation in international activities, "it won't be able to block all roads. If it keeps opposing us, we will keep finding a new way out. This is the Taiwan spirit," Yang said.

    To demonstrate its flexibility, he suggested Taiwan give up its old principle of sending Cabinet-level officials to sign pacts on scientific and technological cooperation with countries like France by sending lower-ranking officials.

    Taiwan could also send representatives with the official delegations of its diplomatic allies to international conferences to demonstrate that it attaches more importance to "substantive participation" rather than "formal or official participation, " he added.

    As for Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations, a task undertaken every September when the U.N. General Assembly convenes in New York, Yang said "since this is a major national goal, it will be reached eventually."

(By S.C. Chang)

ENDITEM/diG