Foreign Minister David Lin says President Ma Ying-jeou’s upcoming visit to Central America will help consolidate Taiwan’s ties with its diplomatic allies.
Lin was responding to question on Monday at the legislature. He said that Mainland China has, in recent years, established the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to work more closely with the member states. Lin said he hopes Ma’s visit can serve a similar purpose for Taiwan.
“This year, the Dominican Republic has assumed CELAC’s rotating presidency," said Lin. "We understand that Mainland China is making a proactive effort to push for more collaboration [with Central American countries]. We hope that President Ma’s visit to Central America will show that Taiwan values ties with Central America and its diplomatic allies.”
President Ma is scheduled to travel through the US cities of Houston and Los Angeles on his way to and from Central America. A legislator asked the foreign minister if the choice of those two cities was a reflection of the United States’ dissatisfaction with Ma’s recent visit to Taiping Island.
Lin responded by saying Ma’s transit in the US was planned by Taiwan officials and that Ma would take the opportunity to communicate further with US officials about his visit to Taiping Island.