Taiwan to consider canceling Haitian debt

While Ma's statement follows a French call for debt relief among Haitian creditors, it also serves to reinforce Taiwan's positive reputation among its remaining diplomatic allies in Latin America and the Caribbean.

For much of the six decades since the two sides split in a civil war, China has tried to isolate Taiwan internationally by getting countries to forswear diplomatic relations with Taipei. It persuaded Costa Rica to switch recognition to it in 2007, leaving Taiwan with only 23 diplomatic allies.

Twelve — Dominican Republic, Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Belize, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Kitts and Nevis — are in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Speaking to a group of supporters in Taipei, Ma said that he wanted Taiwan to carefully consider the Haitian debt question.

"I have already asked the foreign ministry to conduct the necessary reviews to help Haiti to pass through this difficult time," he said.

The foreign ministry declined to quantify the size of the Haitian debt to Taiwan, though the figure is believed to be substantial.

In the wake of last week's quake, Taiwan pledged $5 million in cash assistance and dispatched 23 rescuers and 33 medical personnel to help Haiti cope with its worst natural disaster in 200 years.

China also offered substantial assistance to Haiti, and suggested that Chinese and Taiwanese teams operate under a single banner to help with relief efforts — a move that Taipei rejected.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministry announced that Ma will visit the Dominican Republic on Jan. 28 to deliver relief aid for Haiti. The stop to the Haitian neighbor will come during a long-planned presidential trip for the swearing-in of the new leader of Honduras.

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