Beijing continues to try to lure our allies: MOFA (original) (raw)

• By Jenny W. Hsu / STAFF REPORTER
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Beijing has intensified its efforts to woo Taiwan’s allies since last month’s presidential election despite a pro-unification candidate’s victory, a senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official announced yesterday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said China has been trying to persuade Taiwan’s allies to switch allegiance, claiming that Taiwan and China will soon reconcile thanks to president-elect Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) victory.

WRONG IDEA

The official rebutted the idea that China would soften its suppression of Taiwan’s diplomatic space once Ma takes over.

The official recalled that during the early 1990s, the so-called “peak” of cross-strait relations, Taipei still lost two long-time allies to Beijing, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

DIGNITARIES

Meanwhile, the heads of two international organization will attend May’s inauguration on May 20, Lily Hsu (徐儷文), deputy director-general of Department of International Organizations, said yesterday.

Paul Sun (孫明賢), the director-general of the World Vegetable Center and Central American Bank for Economic Integration executive president Harry Brautigam have notified the government that they will attend, she said.