The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday lashed out at Thailand's refusal to issue visas -- amid apparent pressures from Beijing -- to a legislative delegation originally scheduled to visit Bangkok this week.
"The Thai government's move has just underscored China's obstruction. It's unreasonable to ask the delegation to defer its trip," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Katharine Chang (張小月) told the Taipei Times.
Chang's comment followed a report in the Thai press that Thailand has not issued visas to a 19-member delegation to be led by Legislative Yuan Vice Speaker Chiang Pin-kun (江丙坤).
"The Thai government has asked the delegation to defer its trip as a group of Chinese officials is slated to visit Thailand soon," Chang said. "So our delegation decided to drop the stop in Thailand once and for all."
A Thai newspaper has reported that the timing of the Taiwanese delegation's visit was simply too close to one this week by a Chinese ministerial delegation led by Vice Premier Li Lanqing (
Chiang, head of the delegation, confirmed Chang's remarks.
"We found it unacceptable that the Thai government had asked us to change our itinerary. So we decided not to go to Thailand," he said.
According to Chiang, the delegation was scheduled to leave for Bangkok today, but instead will leave Tuesday for a six-day visit to Malaysia and the Philippines.
According to another member of the delegation, Thailand was to be the first stop in a one-week tour that also included Malaysia and the Philippines. He said the trip was aimed at reviewing the government's "go south" policy, which encourages Taiwanese businesses to invest in Southeast Asia.
A diplomatic row erupted between Taipei and Bangkok last August after the Thai government refused to issue a visa to Council of Labor Affairs Chairperson Chen Chu (陳菊) to attend a conference in Phuket.
Thai foreign ministry spokesman Sihasak Ohuangketkeow said the legislators simply failed to give his ministry enough time to process their visa applications.
"They gave us very short notice on their visa applications which came late last week. It's not that we rejected their visas ... but a visit by such a delegation may have some implications," Sihasak said.
He declined to comment on the Thai newspaper report that the delegation's visit would have coincided one by Chinese officials.
When asked if the legislature would pressure the government to adopt any retaliatory measures against Thailand, Chiang said it is important for the delegation to complete its trip first before the foreign ministry or other agencies consider how to handle the row.
Chang lamented the Thai decision, saying the delegation's visit would have had been conducive to enhancing ties.
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