Taipei Times
Date: Jun 19, 2017
By: Lu Yi-hsuan and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Foreign affairs personnel should remain pragmatic following last week’s severing of diplomatic ties with
A group of diplomatic officials and other Taiwanese on Wednesday participate in a flag-lowering ceremony at the Republic of China embassy in Panama City, Panama. Photo: EPA
Panama, former minister of foreign affairs Chen Chien-jen (程建人) said on Saturday.
Chen recalled the difficulties faced by the ministry when ties with the US were severed in the 1970s, saying everyone was too busy negotiating with the US to gain benefits for Taiwanese to shed tears.
“China now occupies an advantageous position on the world stage. The diplomatic row [between Taiwan and China] that was once easing is on the table again,” Chen said. “Our staff are under great stress as China puts pressure on both our official and non-official allies.”
Chen said he hopes personnel would be driven to do an even better job, adding that diplomatic allies are crucial to the nation’s international recognition. [FULL STORY]
