'Flexible diplomacy' helps improve Taiwan's image in Pacific

At the stop in Nauru, Ma denied that the diplomatic truce was a diplomatic holiday and said Taiwan was actively strengthening economic and cultural ties with its allies, citing aid programs devised for each of its six Pacific allies that were tailored to their needs.

Those aid programs are required to follow the principles of having a legitimate purpose, following legal procedures and being implemented effectively, a departure from the past welcomed on Ma's trip.

"We want to stamp out corruption. Enough is enough, " Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua was quoted as saying by the Australian.

Ma was also greeted in the Solomon Islands by an editorial in the Solomon Star describing "the abuse of your taxpayers' money by MPs using Taiwanese aid money as a slush fund. We are begging you to put a stop to this."

Ma responded that he was not afraid to offend diplomatic friends by preventing aid from being used illegitimately or unscrupulously.

The president's words did not fall on deaf ears. A senior Solomon Islands official responsible for a rural development program promised Ma that his agency will keep close tabs on the use of Taiwan-donated funding.

The various assistance programs offered by the president during his visits, such as food aid, garbage treatment, solar energy development, aquaculture assistance, free school lunches and vocational training, coupled with the concern he showed over the potential threat of climate change to the allies, enabled Taiwan to be depicted with a positive, active image in international news coverage.

Such reports are also expected to help make the world community face up to the unreasonable exclusion of Taiwan from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Under the policy of flexible diplomacy, Taiwan has discontinued its confrontational engagement with China in the international arena and has instead practiced diplomacy in a dignified, responsible and cooperative manner, the president said.

The result, Ma argued, is that the international community will no longer be troubled by the negative consequences of cross-strait diplomatic competition and will instead benefit from changes in the cross-strait situation.

He also expects Taiwan's people to benefit as well.

At the conclusion of his South Pacific tour, Ma stressed that he was committed to making his "flexible diplomacy" strategy a success, pledging to lead Taiwan out of its diplomatic isolation and to find an opening that will allow Taiwan's people to receive respect when traveling abroad.

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