Taiwan says will closely watch ‘suppression’ by China after Vatican accord

TAIPEI: Taiwan said yesterday its relationship with the Vatican is stable, although it will closely watch what it described as ‘suppression’ by China following a landmark deal between Beijing and the Vatican on the appointment of bishops on the mainland.

The Vatican has signed an agreement giving it a long- desired say in the appointment of bishops in China, triggering worries among some officials in Taiwan that the Vatican could switch diplomatic recognition to Beijing.

The Holy See is Taiwan’s last remaining diplomatic ally in Europe.

The self-ruled island of Taiwan has formal relations with 16 other countries, many of them small, less developed nations in Central America and the Pacific.

Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province, has routinely accused China of using dollar diplomacy and bullying to lure away its allies, charges Beijing has denied.

“We will closely watch the suppression and calculations from China,” Taiwan Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Andrew Lee told reporters yesterday in response to comments from Beijing that it wanted to deepen ties with the Vatican.

“The Taiwan-Vatican relations are stable,” he said, adding that Taiwan would actively assist with a plan by the Vatican to remodel its embassy in Taipei, using that as an example of the stable ties. — Reuters