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Time is not right for closer relations with Iran: MOFA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The time is not right for Taiwan and Iran to develop closer relations, despite a strong desire by both sides to do so, a Taiwan foreign ministry official said yesterday.

Taiwan and Iran both intend to boost their already strong trade relationship but “the time is not right” to take the bilateral relations to the next level, said Lin Jinn-jong, director-general of the Department of West Asian Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), at a press briefing.

As the international community has been contemplating sanctions against Iran because of its nuclear energy policies, “it's not appropriate at this moment to step up exchanges (with Iran),” Lin said.

On May 21, the Associated Press reported that Taiwan had turned down a request by Iran to open a “diplomatic mission” in Taiwan. Taiwan's Foreign Minister Timothy C.T. Yang rebutted the report May 25, saying that his ministry has not received any request from Iran to open a trade office in Taiwan.

According to Lin, Iran is Taiwan's third largest oil supplier after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and the annual two-way trade volume is valued at a peak of US$5.6 billion.

“However, the real trade volume could exceed that figure because some deals were done via the Dubai Free Zone,” Lin said.

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council established an office in Tehran in 1992.

According to Bureau of Foreign Trade statistics, the total trade volume between Taiwan and Iran,Taiwan's 25th largest trading partner, was US$2.5 billion in 2009. Most of Taiwan's imports, valued at US$1.98 billion, were petroleum products.

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Comments

July 14, 2010 seasparrow7@

We, Taiwanese, really should develop closer ties to Iran. First of all, United States is incapable of selling oil, lifeline of industry, to Taiwan. And also United States is very indecisive in selling weapons to Taiwan, probably expensive out-dated equipments. We should ally ourselves with China and Iran and develop an economical empire to rival the United States. We will show the Yankees what being Asian is really about!

July 14, 2010 cigars898@

seasparrow7@ wrote:
We, Taiwanese, really should develop closer ties to Iran. First of all, United States is incapable of selling oil, lifeline of industry, to Taiwan. And also United States is very indecisive in selling weapons to Taiwan, probably expensive out-dated equipments. We should ally ourselves with China and Iran and develop an economical empire to rival the United States. We will show the Yankees what being Asian is really about!

You mean being Asian is about communism and radical islam? You know anything about sharia law? Might want to do some reading. Why do you want to join the evil empire?

July 15, 2010 johnny.brian@

Yeah, Taiwan should involve itself more with Asia countries than on US. Yes, US once helped KMT to fend off CCP and Taiwan continues to buy billions of 2nd~3rd grade weapons from them. Improving relation with China will gradually reduce nuclear threat and military buildup. I know this is logical and mathematically correct, but not to everyone.

July 15, 2010 carltanong@

Sorry cigars898. You and your emissaries the fake monk Terrorist Dalai Lama should study the world map. There is no EVIL EMPIRE from the ancient times up to the 21st century. Better wait for another century.

July 16, 2010 cigars898@

Uh..... Johnny, were you watching Beavis and Butthead while you were writing. Whatever your excuse is, what you wrote is not logical, it's called rationalizing. Often confused by people that don't want to recognize reality so they try and skew the facts in a way that fits their agenda. "We should improve our relation with China?" You mean bow down and let them run our country?

Are we threatening China with violence? Are we building nuclear bombs? If the US didn't sell Taiwan weapons, where would they get them from?

Maybe since you think China is so awesome, we could buy our weapons from the ones threatening us, so we could protect ourselves from them. That's your logic? Maybe Iran would sell us some good stuff so we can protect ourselves from the Chicoms. Is that your logic? You have the logic of a 12 year old and the math skills of kindergartner.

The US is the only country with the balls, big enough to sell weapons to Taiwan. Talk about looking the gift horse in the mouth. Now Taiwan's predicament is the US's fault? The US sees you pro-china freaks that don't want to man up and protect your own county and freedom. Why would the US want to sell Taiwan their secrets when you and the KMT want to partner up with the communists? How is it that you are so willing to overlook Iran and China's endless disregard for human rights and justice?

July 20, 2010 cigars898@

carltanong@ wrote:
Sorry cigars898. You and your emissaries the fake monk Terrorist Dalai Lama should study the world map. There is no EVIL EMPIRE from the ancient times up to the 21st century. Better wait for another century.

You may want to re-read your World War II history and realize your misunderstanding. Start with Wiki on The Axis... and get back to me.

N. Korea, China and Iran, all buddies, all evil governments, I'm going to stick with "Evil Empire" [Dr Evil Laughing]. I was really surprised you didn't argue with my first 3 sentences of my statement though. I guess you're learning something. For that I'm thankful. Have a lovely day.