Taiwan Foreign Minister Visited Hungary
February 20, 1999 - 0:0
TAIPEI Taiwan Foreign Minister Jason Hu visited Hungary this week and may have visited several other European countries in a move expected to upset China, the United Daily News reported Friday. Hu arrived in Vatican City Thursday for a three-day visit after meeting high-ranking Hungarian officials Wednesday, the newspaper said. Hungary recognizes China rather than Taiwan while the Vatican maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The newspaper said Hu stayed in Europe after visiting Jordan for King Hussein's funeral on Monday last week and may have visited several European countries which do not have official relations with Taiwan. China opposes any overseas trip by officials of the nationalist island, which it regards as a breakaway province.
Hu's visit to the Holy See came after the Roman Catholic Church said it might switch its embassy from Taipei to Beijing. The Catholic Church's secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, said last week that the Vatican would switch its embassy if the Chinese Communist authorities allowed. He said the move would not mean breaking off relations with Taipei but would be a return of the nunciature to Beijing, where it was before the Communists seized power in 1949.
The Foreign Ministry said hu would exchange views with Vatican leaders on matters of mutual concern in order to promote mutual understanding and world peace. He will brief them on current developments of the peace process between the two sides of the Taiwan strait and explain the purpose of the ROC's (Republic of China, Taiwan's official name) foreign policy which is based on the promotion of international cooperation, it said.
The newspaper said Hu had planned to visit Macedonia after his trip to the Vatican. But it said the visit was cancelled to avoid angering China while the United Nations Security Council is scheduled Monday to discuss the extension of a mandate for UN troops in Macedonia. China was reported to be planning to veto the UN peace mission in retaliation for Macedonia switching diplomatic recognition from Beijing to Taipei in January. (AFP)
Hu's visit to the Holy See came after the Roman Catholic Church said it might switch its embassy from Taipei to Beijing. The Catholic Church's secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, said last week that the Vatican would switch its embassy if the Chinese Communist authorities allowed. He said the move would not mean breaking off relations with Taipei but would be a return of the nunciature to Beijing, where it was before the Communists seized power in 1949.
The Foreign Ministry said hu would exchange views with Vatican leaders on matters of mutual concern in order to promote mutual understanding and world peace. He will brief them on current developments of the peace process between the two sides of the Taiwan strait and explain the purpose of the ROC's (Republic of China, Taiwan's official name) foreign policy which is based on the promotion of international cooperation, it said.
The newspaper said Hu had planned to visit Macedonia after his trip to the Vatican. But it said the visit was cancelled to avoid angering China while the United Nations Security Council is scheduled Monday to discuss the extension of a mandate for UN troops in Macedonia. China was reported to be planning to veto the UN peace mission in retaliation for Macedonia switching diplomatic recognition from Beijing to Taipei in January. (AFP)