Taiwan Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y.L. Lin emphasized the strong relations between his nation and the Marshall Islands since the two established ties in 1998. He spent two days in Majuro specifically to meet the country’s new leader who was elected at the end of October.
Since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May 2008, Taiwan has focused on “building a more cordial working relationship with mainland China,” Lin said. The “more flexible and pragmatic approach” to cross straight relations has significantly improved economic ties, and led to China easing its opposition to Taiwan participating in international organizations, Lin said.
“We made it clear to the PRC side we wanted a diplomatic truce,” he said in an interview. “A diplomatic tug-of-war doesn’t serve any purpose.”
He said Taiwan is satisfied with the 23 countries that recognize it. Taiwan’s new policy does not mean a diminution of interest in the Marshall Islands and its other allies, Lin said. “We want to strengthen our cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis,” he said.
Despite the postponement of this year’s Taiwan Pacific Allies Summit — two earlier summits were held in the Pacific under the government of now imprisoned former President Chen Shui-bian — Lin said Taiwan is still reviewing options for future summits, but said sometimes bilateral activity is “more effective.”
Currently, the Taiwan government is considering a new project for the Marshall Islands — a technical and vocational education training program that would increase opportunities for Marshallese youth, Lin said. This is an example of bilateral cooperation, where Taiwan is focused on a project specific only to one country, he said.
“A summit is not the only way of showing the importance of our ties with our Pacific allies,” he said. But, he added, his government will come up with a “more concrete proposal” regarding the summit in 2010.
Lin said Ma is keen to expand educational opportunities for international students in Taiwan and cultural exchanges among youth in Taiwan and the islands. “President Ma is very positive about Taiwan’s scholarship program and wants to expand it,” he said, adding that a Taiwan youth exchange with Pacific allies met with “wonderful” results in 2009 and will be expanded next year.
He praised the micro loan program being funded by Taiwan and managed by Bank of Marshall Islands for getting help out to nearly 300 small business projects since 2006.
For years, both China and Taiwan were criticized for “check book diplomacy” in their rivalry for diplomatic partners. “I don’t like the concept of check book diplomacy,” Lin said, adding that accountability and transparency in its foreign aid program is a strong focus of Ma.
“We are focusing on projects to promote the well-being of the recipients,” Lin said. “Taiwan would like to see more effect in development projects, including more transparency and accountability with more measurable data.”
