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Taiwan condemns China's 'chequebook diplomacy' over Malawi ties
Taipei (AFP) Jan 14, 2008 Taiwan on Monday strongly denounced its rival China for using money to lure away Malawi after the African country had earlier said it was setting up diplomatic ties with Beijing. The foreign ministry also blasted the Malawi government, saying it was trying to cooperate with China to humiliate Taipei, as the move coincides with an overseas visit by Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian. "The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) severely condemns China for using a lot of money to lure away our ally, as part of its efforts to squeeze Taiwan's international space," Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Tzu-pao Yang told reporters. Taiwan's government also immediately terminated various cooperation programmes with its former African ally, he said. The remarks came shortly after Malawi's foreign minister said it had decided to switch its diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the Chinese government in Beijing. Yang did not specify how much China may have handed over but said it had late last year offered up to 6 billion dollars for Malawi to switch allegiance. Chen, of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, lashed out at Beijing, accusing it of trying to undermine the island. "China shows no signs that it will ease its military threats, diplomatic suppression and two-handed economic strategy on Taiwan," he said before heading on a week-long mission to Guatemala and St Lucia. "China is intensifying its 'dollar diplomacy' attacks on Taiwan and using all means possible to take away our allies. We cannot sit back passively... we have to step out for the international community to see Taiwan." Latin America, the South Pacific and Africa have been the main diplomatic battlegrounds for the two nations, which have accused each other in the past of luring allies with "chequebook diplomacy". Yang was especially angry at the timing of the diplomatic setback, which leaves only 23 countries recognising Taipei. "It is a great humiliation to Taiwan's government and people when our head of state is visiting abroad," he said. But he pledged that the government would never buckle under Beijing's pressure and would continue to fight for its voice internationally. China on Monday chided Washington for allowing Chen to make a stopover in the United States en route to Central America, calling him a "destroyer of peace". Beijing opposes any foreign visits by top government officials of Taiwan, which it regards as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war. Related Links Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Commentary: Bipartisan manifesto
Washington (UPI) Jan 9, 2008 The bipartisan conclave in Oklahoma this week was designed as a bridge between moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats who seek to use "smart power" to build a new world order. Smart power is the skillful conjugation of soft (diplomacy) and hard (military intervention) power, which kept the world at peace for half of the 20th century. (Wars in Korea and Vietnam were bumps in the road.) |
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