Amid ongoing concerns over the shaky relationship with Saint Lucia, the government will look at the suitability of maintaining its embattled ambassador to the Caribbean country in his post, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday.
Wu Chin-mu (吳進木), -director-general of the ministry’s Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, said the ministry was “receptive” to whatever views a host government has about Taiwanese representatives to that country.
His comments were a departure from the ministry’s previous stance on friction between Ambassador Tom Chou (周台竹) and the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), which regained power in November.
“We evaluate the suitability of ambassadors and officers stationed overseas regularly and alter their positions in a rotating system, based on length of service and eligibility. Personnel replacements will be made when necessary,” Wu said in response to media inquiries at a regular press briefing.
As to whether the ministry is considering replacing Chou, Wu said the ministry would look into the matter. The SLP has made many complaints against Chou over the years because of alleged interference in the country’s electoral process in favor of the United Workers Party (UWP).
After SLP leader Kenny Anthony was sworn in as prime minister early last month, the ministry said the SLP government had given its assurances that it would continue to maintain relations with Taiwan, as Chou and Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Yang (楊進添) held talks with Anthony on bilateral cooperation projects.
However, media in St Lucia continued to cast doubts on the relationship between the two countries. The latest report on Sunday quoted Saint Lucia Foreign Minister Alva Baptiste as saying that “within the next few weeks the new St Lucia government will make a definite decision as to whether it wants to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.”
Baptiste made the remarks after talks with Yang, who last week spent four days in the country, the second leg of his journey to attend swearing-in ceremonies for Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega yesterday, Guatemalan President Otto Perez on Jan. 14 and Gambian President Yahya J.J. Jammeh on Jan. 19.
“We have articulated our concerns to the Taiwanese foreign minister about the [behavior] of his ambassador during the tenure of the UWP administration, and indicated in no uncertain terms that Mr Chou was too deeply involved in the country’s political affairs,” Baptiste was quoted by local media as saying.
At the press briefing yesterday, Wu said the country’s relationships with Saint Lucia “remain strong.”
“After the election [in November], Anthony had publicly announced that he would maintain relations with Taiwan,” Wu said.
Following Yang’s visit, the relationship between Taiwan and Saint Lucia will continue its steady and fruitful development, Wu said.
Yang twice had cordial meetings with Anthony and had discussions with Governor-General Dame Pearlette Louisy, Saint Lucia’s head of state, as well as ministers in charge of foreign affairs, commerce, tourism, agriculture, education and technology, establishing friendship with the SLP administration, Wu said.
Wu said that diplomatic relations with the 12 countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean that recognize the Republic of China (ROC) are “very stable,” dismissing speculation that some countries may switch ties to China after the elections on Saturday.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS