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Taipei hopes better ties with China would ease diplomatic squeeze

ROC Central News Agency

Taipei, Nov. 8 (CNA) It remains to be seen whether Taiwan's developing friendship with China would lead to any let up by Beijing of its diplomatic squeeze on the island, Foreign Minister Francisco H. L. Ou said Saturday.

Noting that Beijing has not taken issue with Taiwan's appointment of Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan as the president's envoy to the informal summit of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Lima, Peru later this month, Ou said this showed goodwill on China's part toward Taiwan.

Although Taiwan is a full member of APEC, its president has never attended an APEC summit because of Beijing's opposition, and has had to appoint a representative -- usually an economics official -- to represent the country.

In 2001, then-President Chen Shui-bian appointed former Vice President Lee Yuan-zu as his envoy to the summit in Shanghai in an attempt to push the envelop, but Chen's choice was rejected by China, and Taiwan was therefore not represented at that meeting.

In light of this background, many political pundits were surprised that Beijing did not put up any objection to President Ma Ying-jeou's Oct. 29 decision to have Lien Chan attend the Lima summit on his behalf.

Ou said that APEC is one of a few international bodies in which Taiwan's leaders could rub shoulders with their foreign counterparts, and that Lien Chan, whom he said has contributed a lot to improving Taiwan's ties with China, is sure to do justice to the mission.

However, the minister said, he is not sure whether this friendly atmosphere will prompt Beijing to relax its efforts to shut Taiwan out of the international community.

Ou said that in the last ten days his ministry gave Lien two briefings on his mission. The foreign minister however said that he has no idea whether Lien would meet with China President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the APEC summit, adding that this was a matter beyond the jurisdiction of the foreign ministry. (By Maubo Chang) Enditem /pc