President Ma Ying-jeou's spokesman Wang Yu-chi dismissed a newspaper report that claimed Beijing had conveyed its concern to the Presidential Office through “certain channels” after learning of the foreign minister's statement.

“There was no contact with China nor was there any communication from Beijing during the entire handling of the matter,” Wang said.

Foreign Minister Francisco Ou last week said that Taiwan would not oppose it if its diplomatic ally El Salvador forged formal ties with China. The remarks sparked speculation that Taiwan would accept dual recognition in line with President Ma's call for a “diplomatic truce” with China.

The United Daily yesterday claimed that China had conveyed its concern to the Presidential Office following Ou's remarks. Wang said the Presidential Office had asked the foreign ministry to clarify Ou's remarks.

El Salvador's left leaning President-elect Mauricio Funes is mulling establishing diplomatic links with China after taking office on June 1, according to an AFP report. The report has sparked concern in Taiwan that its Central American ally, one of only 23 that Taiwan has around the world, would switch recognition to China.

Ou said Thursday that Taiwan would work hard to cement ties with El Salvador, and so far bilateral relations remained solid. But if El Salvador planned to establish ties with China, Taiwan would not be opposed to this.

Foreign ministry spokesman Henry Chen later explained that Taiwan would not be opposed to any plan by El Salvador to develop “economic” links with China.

But Taiwan would not wish to see China and El Salvador forge formal ties. Ma said Friday that Taiwan is not pursuing dual diplomatic recognition, which has never worked in the past.

“It would be too impractical to seek dual recognition. This would create more problems than it would solve,” the president said.