AI
Saturday, December 11, 2004 12:25:46 PM
Taiwan says China used Vanuatu issue to try to sway polls
TAIPEI : Taiwan accused rival China of trying to sway the outcome of Saturday's Taiwanese parliamentary election by pressuring Vanuatu's parliament to dismiss the Pacific nation's pro-Taipei prime minister.
Vanuatu's parliament passed a vote of no confidence early Saturday to oust Prime Minister Serge Vohor, who last month signed a communique establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan despite his country's existing ties with Beijing.
"We strongly condemn such moves that are obviously aimed at influencing the outcome of Taiwan's parliamentary election," said foreign ministry spokesman Michel Lu.
Lu said he was "not optimistic" about Taiwan-Vanuatu ties with pro-Beijing deputy prime minister Ham Lini appointed as the new head of government.
"Our diplomats will remain in Port Vila until the last minute to communicate with the new government," he said, insisting the communique signed by Vohor should still be valid.
Lu alleged that China had offered 32 million US dollars in aid to Vanuatu to save its ties. "We refused to play the 'cash diplomacy' game," he said.
Vohor's trip here caught both his own government and Beijing off-guard and Port Vila later released a statement revoking the communique.
Vanuatu has become the latest flashpoint in China's long-running diplomatic war with Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory awaiting reunification.
The two sides have tried to woo diplomatic allies away from each other with generous financial aid packages and business incentives.
Vanuatu has received millions of dollars in foreign aid, particularly from China but also from Taiwan in recent years.
Only 26 countries, excluding Vanuatu, recognize Taipei instead of Beijing as the legal government of all China.
In the parliamentary election a pro-independence coalition led by President Chen Shui-bian is trying to wrest control of the legislature from a coalition which favours warmer ties with China.
- AFP
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/121767/1/.html
See also:
#msg-4802008
#msg-4802405
TAIPEI : Taiwan accused rival China of trying to sway the outcome of Saturday's Taiwanese parliamentary election by pressuring Vanuatu's parliament to dismiss the Pacific nation's pro-Taipei prime minister.
Vanuatu's parliament passed a vote of no confidence early Saturday to oust Prime Minister Serge Vohor, who last month signed a communique establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan despite his country's existing ties with Beijing.
"We strongly condemn such moves that are obviously aimed at influencing the outcome of Taiwan's parliamentary election," said foreign ministry spokesman Michel Lu.
Lu said he was "not optimistic" about Taiwan-Vanuatu ties with pro-Beijing deputy prime minister Ham Lini appointed as the new head of government.
"Our diplomats will remain in Port Vila until the last minute to communicate with the new government," he said, insisting the communique signed by Vohor should still be valid.
Lu alleged that China had offered 32 million US dollars in aid to Vanuatu to save its ties. "We refused to play the 'cash diplomacy' game," he said.
Vohor's trip here caught both his own government and Beijing off-guard and Port Vila later released a statement revoking the communique.
Vanuatu has become the latest flashpoint in China's long-running diplomatic war with Taiwan, which it sees as part of its territory awaiting reunification.
The two sides have tried to woo diplomatic allies away from each other with generous financial aid packages and business incentives.
Vanuatu has received millions of dollars in foreign aid, particularly from China but also from Taiwan in recent years.
Only 26 countries, excluding Vanuatu, recognize Taipei instead of Beijing as the legal government of all China.
In the parliamentary election a pro-independence coalition led by President Chen Shui-bian is trying to wrest control of the legislature from a coalition which favours warmer ties with China.
- AFP
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/121767/1/.html
See also:
#msg-4802008
#msg-4802405
Discover What Traders Are Watching
Explore small cap ideas before they hit the headlines.
