Taiwan will not oppose allies' China links

"Instead of devoting energy to a diplomatic war, each side should seek to develop normal relations with other countries and make the best use of their diplomatic resources," Ou told reporters at his hotel in Panama.

Ou arrived in the Central American country earlier in the day as part of a delegation headed by President Ma Ying-jeou, on the first leg of the president's visit to two of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in the region.

"If Taiwan is seeking to build closer trade and economic links with China, why should Taiwan oppose the development of such relations between its diplomatic allies and China?" the foreign minister asked. "Now that Taiwan and China have entered a diplomatic truce, Taiwan is not in any position to block other countries' efforts to forge trade links with China."

"With Taiwan also maintaining trade offices in some countries that formally recognize Beijing instead of Taipei, why should we oppose any arrangement between China and Taiwan's diplomatic partners on reciprocal trade offices?" he said.

For instance, China has opened trade offices in Panama, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which are all Taiwan's diplomatic allies, he noted.

Ma, his wife Chow Mei-ching, and an official delegation arrived in Panama June 30 for the July 1 inauguration of President-elect Ricardo Martinelli.

During his three-day stay in Panama, Ma will tour the Panama Canal and preside over the opening of a digitized Mandarin learning classroom located in the Taiwan-Panama Culture Center in Panama City.

He is also scheduled to address Panama's new parliament and visit a container port in Colon that was built by a Taiwanese conglomerate, Evergreen Maritime Corp.

Ma will fly from Panama to Nicaragua on July 3 for a two-day visit and is expected to meet with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. Ma is scheduled to return to Taiwan July 6 via Hawaii.

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