Nicaragua reaffirms ties with Taiwan as others keep their distance

May 24, 2007, 17:27 GMT

Managua - Taiwan and Nicaragua have reaffirmed ties during a semi-official visit by Taiwanese Foreign Minister James Huang to Nicaragua, one of the few countries that recognizes the South-East Asian nation, media reports said.

Huang met with Nicaraguan Vice President Jaime Morales Carazo on Wednesday, in what Morales Carazo characterized as 'a courtesy and working visit.'

The two reportedly agreed that bilateral relations which started in 1990 should continue, amid rumours that Taiwan's Central American allies may be distancing themselves from Taipei.

Although the Taiwanese Embassy did not confirm the minister's visit to Nicaragua, television showed footage of him and Carazo at their meeting at the seat of the Nicaraguan Vice Presidency.

The daily El Nuevo Diario reported that Huang said cooperation will remain on course, but he would not comment on Nicaragua's abstention from a vote on Taiwan's request to join the World Health Organization.

The WHO earlier this month rejected the island's bid to join for the 11th time since its first application in 1997. It was the first time Taipei had applied using the title Taiwan rather than its official name, the Republic of China.

Huang's discrete visit allowed Nicaragua and Taiwan to start negotiating trade and business deals that could be worth more than 470 million dollars, the daily reported.

Taiwan's independence-leaning President Chen Shui-bian has dropped several hints that he may change the island's official name to Taiwan, a move strongly opposed by China which claims sovereignty over the territory.

Huang on Friday will join a meeting of Central American and Caribbean foreign ministers in Belize, to discuss financial and political cooperation between Taipei and its seven allies in the region.

But many ministers may decline to attend and send lower-ranking delegations in their place, media reports said.

Following the WHO vote, several political sectors in Taiwan expressed fear that ties with Central America, where it has had great support, may be getting weaker.

China has warned other countries against recognizing the island as a political entity with independent sovereignty and has repeatedly blocked the island from joining international organizations.