Taiwan guards against changes in ties with Malawi

Taipei, Dec. 24 (CNA) Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Tzu-pao is on his way to Lilongwe, Malawi to cement bilateral ties after a Malawian newspapers said that African state is paving the groundwork for diplomatic ties with Beijing, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday.

Phoebe Yeh, acting spokeswoman for the ministry said Yang is on a mission to seek clarification from Malawi authorities despite its denial of a Dec. 21 report on Malawian online newspaper Nyasa Times that Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has agreed to switch recognition from Taipei to Beijing.

The newspaper said President Bingu wa Mutharika has delegated Minister of Presidential Affairs, Davis Katsonga, and Henry Chimunthu Banda, who doubles as the government leader in parliament and minister of energy and mining, to travel to Beijing to open talks leading to diplomatic relations.

Yeh said Taipei is closely monitoring the development in light of the fact that "China is using astronomical figures of money to sabotage our ties with Malawi."

Yeh quoted Malawian Foreign Minister Joyce Banda as telling Taipei on Sunday that China has "attempted many times over the past several years to build better relations with Malawi."

However, she said, Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang summoned Malawian Ambassador in Taipei, Thengo Maloya, earlier that day and was assured by the Malawian envoy that there has been no change in his country's ties with Taiwan. (By Maubo Chang)