Taiwan expects international participation: diplomat

China should not overlook the expectation of Taiwan's people for international participation if it wants bilateral relations to grow and thrive, Foreign Affairs Minister Timothy C.T. Yang said yesterday.

Speaking in an interview with the Central News Agency, Yang, a career diplomat who assumed the post early this month in a major Cabinet reshuffle, said President Ma Ying-jeou's modus vivendi policy is aimed at achieving a turnaround in the diplomatic arena.

Arguing that the previous administration's diplomatic policy had a negative impact on Taiwan's development and its relations with China and other countries, Yang said Ma's new flexible and pragmatic diplomatic strategy will usher in a new era in the country's diplomatic history.

"The modus vivendi policy has allowed us to rebuild trust and strengthen interaction with our friends," Yang said, referring to improved relations with Taiwan's major trade partners, including the United States, following a thaw in once strained ties with China.

But China's attitude has been slow to change, as Yang illustrated by citing an incident that occurred earlier this year during his tenure as representative to Indonesia.

At a public event, Yang was not allowed to sit in a section reserved for members of the diplomatic corps due to a protest from China's ambassador to Jakarta, which the diplomat said showed that it may take time for China's grassroots diplomatic personnel to adjust their conservative traditions and mindset.

"The change in the Beijing leadership's way of thinking probably has not been fully conveyed to its overseas diplomatic staff," Yang said. "We need to be patient in waiting for their adjustment."

He also reminded Chinese leaders that if Beijing wants to enhance the affection of Taiwan's people for China, it should not disregard their desire for participation in international activities.

"If Beijing fails to make the necessary adjustment, cross-strait rapprochment could be limited," Yang said.

Stressing the importance of professionalism in diplomacy, Yang said Taiwan cannot afford to address issues simply from its own perspective, but should instead tackle Taiwan's issues from a global perspective.