Taiwan allies to make contact with China during UN General Assembly

Sep 24, 2007, 1:37 GMT

Taipei - Some diplomatic allies of Taiwan plan to make contacts with China on the sidelines of the 62nd United Nations General Assembly, causing Taipei to worry, a newspaper reported Monday.

The annual General Assembly opens Tuesday at UN headquarters in New York, where many leaders from around the world are already gathering.

The United Daily News (UDN) quoted Chinese ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya as confirming that Honduran Foreign Minister Milton Jimenez will meet in New York with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

'The request was made by Honduras,' Wang told a UDN reporter in New York. 'Several other allies of Taiwan have requested meeting with China's foreign minister in New York.'

Wang did not name other Taiwan allies that have sought talks with Yang, but the UDN said that Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Malawi, Nauru and Haiti did not voice support for Taiwan's UN membership Friday at the UN General Assembly.

Taiwan, seat of the exiled Republic of China since 1949, is recognized by 24 countries, half of them in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Taipei-Beijing diplomatic war intensified after China won over Costa Rica from Taiwan on June 1.

Analysts have warned that Costa Rica's switch could have a domino effect on Taiwan's remaining allies in Central America, but Taipei said its ties with these countries are stable for now.