Taiwan President To Visit Central America
Amid China Opposition
Taipei (AFP) -- Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou
is scheduled to leave for Central America
Monday, his second visit to the region in a
month, to shore up ties with allies there,
his spokesman said Sunday.
Ma will attend Panama's presidential
inauguration of Ricardo Martinelli
Wednesday, and then travel on to Nicaragua
and Honduras, Ma's spokesman Wang Yu-chi
told AFP.
However, Chinese officials last week called
on leaders of other countries to avoid
contact with Ma while in Panama, sparking
criticism from Taiwan's opposition that Ma's
"diplomatic truce" was not reciprocated by
Beijing.
"The two sides have been divided for such a
long time and there is no denying that there
are some differences on various issues which
cannot be eliminated overnight," Wang said.
Still, "cross-strait ties have been on a
positive track since last year," he added.
Beijing opposes any overseas visits by
officials from Taiwan, which it still
regards as part of its territory to be
reunified by force if necessary although the
island has governed itself since the end of
a civil war in 1949.
China had repeatedly protested to Washington
over the US transit stops made by Ma's
predecessor Chen Shui-bian, who angered
Beijing with his pro-independence rhetoric.
But relations have improved dramatically
since Ma, of the China-friendly Kuomintang,
came to power in May last year.
Ma's "diplomatic truce" calls for an end to
the decades-old tug-of-war with China over
the island's bid for international
recognition.
Both sides had accused each other of using
generous financial packages to ensure the
loyalty of governments or persuade them to
switch allegiance, especially in Africa,
Latin America and the Pacific.
Only 23 nations formally recognise Taipei
over Beijing.
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