MOFA to follow 'Paraguay' model to keep El Salvador ties

“We won't cut off our ties with El Salvador of our own accord,” Ou told a Legislative Yuan Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee meeting in the morning.

While Chiang Kai-shek ruled Taiwan, Taipei never failed to sever diplomatic ties with any country of the world that recognized the People's Republic.

Reports from San Salvador said President-elect Mauricio Funes said on Wednesday he would consider switching diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei.

In Beijing, Qin Gang, spokesman for the foreign ministry, said China is ready to establish diplomatic relations with El Salvador in line with its “one China” principle, which he did not elaborate.

According to that principle, which is also acknowledged by the United Nations, Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic. “What we are striving for,” Ou went on, “is to keep diplomatic relations between the Republic of China and El Salvador.”

When the interpellation began at the committee meeting, Ou reiterated there would not be any change in relations between Taiwan and El Salvador. He said so right after Funes was elected on Monday.

The Waichiopu then said plans are under way for President Ma Ying-jeou would visit San Salvador to attend Funes' inauguration.

But when Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Tsai Huang-liang asked if Ou was sure Taipei-San Salvador ties would remain intact, the foreign minister said he was confident that the relationship would not be changed. “Should diplomatic relations with El Salvador be terminated,” Tsai persisted, “wouldn't President Ma's pragmatic diplomacy be bankrupt? And shouldn't you step down as foreign minister to take responsibility?”

Ou replied he didn't believe Funes would recognize Funes. Tsai's Kuomintang colleague Yang Li-huan picked up where the DPP lawmaker left off.

“Do you want to cut off ties with El Salvador, if it recognizes Beijing?” Yang asked Ou. “No, no,” Ou said. “We'll follow the 'Paraguay' formula to keep the ties,” he pointed out. But he did not elaborate what that formula is.

His spokesman Henry Chen said in a statement later the foreign ministry “will help Funes fully understand all the cooperative projects between Taiwan and El Salvador and strengthen bilateral cooperation.”

That means Taiwan may extend more “assistance” to El Salvador just as it did to Paraguay, when its newly elected president said he would recognize Beijing. More aid was promised and Asuncion did not break diplomatic relations with Taipei.

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