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China will not ease suppression because of Taiwan election: MOFA

ROC Central News Agency

2007-12-24 19:24:53

    Taipei, Dec. 24 (CNA) Taiwan's upcoming presidential election will not cause China to relent in its obstruction of Taiwan internationally, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) officials predicted Monday.

    The officials noted that some analysts have forecast that China will not bash Taiwan in the runup to the presidential election lest it backfires and boosts the campaign of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, although there have been signs recently that China will not relax its Taiwan policy due to the March 22 presidential election. "The suppression has in fact risen unabated, " they said, adding that Beijing's Taiwan policy includes taking all of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, blocking all channels for Taiwan internationally and crushing all Taiwan's international room for maneuvering, commonly known as the "three all policy."

    In addition to the African ally of Malawi, the ministry is also on full alert about possible changes in three Central American allies -- Panama, Dominican Republic and Haiti -- that Foreign Affairs Minister James Huang recently visited, they said.

    The officials said this is because the ministry has learned that the three allies have been greatly pressured by China, prompting Huang to make a personal visit to solidify ties. The situation with Panama is especially stark, they noted.

    Huang suggested that President Chen Shui-bian should attend the inauguration ceremony of Guatemalan President-elect Alvaro Colom Jan. 14 so as to meet with other national heads of state during the event and contribute to bilateral and multilateral relations between Taiwan and the nations of Central America.

    The officials noted that while Huang was visiting Central America, the situation in Malawi gave cause for concern and that Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Tzu-pao was sent there to help shore up ties.

    Reports said that a delegation of Malawi officials is ready to visit China, which might put bilateral ties with Taiwan in jeopardy.

    Foreign officials have said that China has multiple strategic considerations with regard to Africa and that China knows exactly what it wants from the continent -- its valuable resources as well as Taiwan's allies switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.

    But they said that when Africa eyes major investment projects promised by China, they often neglect to consider whether China can deliver on its promises.

(By Lilian Wu)

ENDITEM/J