ALLIES:President Ma Ying-jeou said that Taiwan’s friendship with the Vatican has remained unshakable and has become firmer, citing the many visits made by cardinals
Taipei Times
Date: Apr 08, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday reiterated the strong ties between
President Ma Ying-jeou, right, shakes hands with Paul Russell, the Vatican’s senior envoy to Taiwan, during a meeting at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA
Taiwan and its sole European diplomatic ally, the Holy See, amid renewed rumors that the Vatican and China are going to enter talks on resuming diplomatic relations.
“Diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the Republic of China (ROC) have reached their 74th year. Our friendship has been stable and marked by frequent exchange events, including the ongoing special exhibition featuring artifacts from the Holy See at Taipei’s National Palace Museum,” Department of European Affairs Director-General Anna Kao (高安) told a morning news conference in Taipei yesterday.
Asked to comment on recent speculation that China and the Vatican could begin talks about restoring formal diplomatic ties after both sides have reportedly reached a consensus on the long-standing thorny issue regarding the appointment of Chinese bishops, Kao said the ministry would closely watch any dialogue between Beijing and the Holy See. [FULL STORY]
