DEMOCRACY DIPLOMACY: The foreign ministry has created an Indo-Pacific section, potentially in response to Alex Wong’s praise of Taiwan as an example for the region

Taipei Times
Date: May 09, 2018
By: Stacy Hsu  /  Staff reporter

Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) yesterday rejected allegations that the government has a list of potential new diplomatic allies, saying that the government has no plans to establish new diplomatic ties and would focus on the nation’s existing allies.

Wu made the remarks in Taipei at his first gathering with the media since taking the helm of the ministry in February, during which he was asked whether the ministry has a list as his predecessor, David Lee (李大維), had told a legislative session in December 2016.

“The foreign ministry does not have such a list. We should focus on strengthening ties with our existing diplomatic allies and let them see that the assistance we are offering them is substantial and vital to maintaining ties with us,” Wu said.

He also said that Taipei would not engage in a checkbook diplomacy war with Beijing, something that Taiwanese strongly oppose, according to opinion polls conducted by the ministry.    [FULL  STORY]