Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/09/20
By: Joseph Yeh

Image taken from Pixabay

Taipei, Sept. 20 (CNA) A possible agreement between the Vatican and China will be aimed at Catholic religious affairs only and will not affect the Holy See’s ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan), Deputy Foreign Minister Kelly Hsieh (謝武樵) said Thursday.

Both Catholic and Chinese state media have recently reported that the Vatican and Beijing could seal the deal before the end of this month, ending a decades-long dispute over the issue of the appointment of bishops in China, with some speculating that this could lead to the Vatican forming diplomatic ties with Beijing and ditching Taipei.

Hsieh told reporters Thursday that high-ranking Vatican officials have repeatedly told Taiwan that the agreement, once signed, is aimed at handling Catholic religious affairs in China only and will not touch on political or diplomatic issues.   [FULL  STORY]