GUARANTEE? The premier said there is ‘some distance’ between Beijing and the Holy See signing an accord, adding that the nation should continue to solidify current ties
Taipei Times
Date: Mar 10, 2018
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter
Taiwan would do its utmost to keep the nation’s diplomatic allies, Premier William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, as Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) added that while China and the Vatican are expected to later this month finalize which side has the right to ordain bishops, the accord would not hamper diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the Holy See.
Wu made the remarks at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei when asked by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) whether he can guarantee that the Vatican would not switch diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.
The Vatican is allegedly on the verge of making a historic concession by asking two bishops to resign to make way for two Chinese bishops appointed by Beijing.
The intelligence that the ministry has gathered indicates that negotiations over the appointment of the bishops would not affect diplomatic ties between Taiwan and the Vatican, Wu said. [FULL STORY]