Taiwan tells Malawi to choose between Taipei and Beijing

Taipei - Taiwan, concerned about its African ally Malawi's plan to recognize China, told Malawi on Friday to choose between Taipei and Beijing. "China plans to launch a new diplomatic offensive against Taiwan during the Christmas and New Year holidays. China has pledged billions of dollars, but whether China can honour its promises, no one knows. Our diplomatic allies must make a cautious choice between Taiwan and China," Foreign Minister James Huang said.

"China has strategic ambitions for Africa, for Africa's natural resources, while Taiwan keeps its promise and cares about local people's livelihood. Which one you want to choose to be your friend, our African allies must make a wise decision," he said.

Huang said Taiwan is still communicating with Malawi's leaders and will try its best to maintain ties.

Malawi is among the 24 countries which recognize Taiwan. Taiwan has spent huge amounts of money to prevent them from recognizing China, which is trying to match Taiwan's donations and aid.

On December 21, the Malawian newspaper Nyasa Times reported that President Bingu wa Mutharika had approved recognizing China, and two Cabinet ministers, Minister of Presidential and Parliamentary Affairs Davis Katsonga and Minister of Energy and Mining Henry Chimunthu Banda, accompanied by two Foreign Ministry officials, were to fly to Beijing via Bangkok Monday.

They would sign a memorandum of understanding to pave the way for launching diplomatic ties, the paper said.

In the past week, Minister Huang has summoned Malawi's ambassador to the Foreign Ministry twice to seek clarification on Malawi's plan to recognize China. The ambassador insisted Malawi-Taiwan ties remain unchanged.

Malawi should choose wisely: Foreign minister

Taiwan's foreign minister James Huang said Malawi should choose wisely between relations with Taiwan or with China.

Huang made the remarks in a press conference on Friday. His comment came amid news reports that Malawi is to break off diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China. China forbids its allies from officially recognizing Taiwan.

Huang said for the moment links between Taiwan and Malawi remain unchanged. He also said the foreign ministry will do all it can to maintain the country's friendship with Malawi. But he said Taiwan will not compete with China on the basis of "dollar diplomacy."

Huang said Malawi is an important ally of Taiwan in Africa. He also said China has strategic ambitions to exploit Malawi's natural resources, while Taiwan cares about the improvement of the living standard of the Malawian people. Huang therefore called on Malawi to make its choice carefully.

Jolie is top celeb philanthropist, but material girl comes bottom

Angelina Jolie is not just admired for her curves, according to a recent poll which says she's the world's most respected celebrity for her philanthropic work. But the public doesn't feel the same way about pop star Madonna, who beat Paris Hilton to the dubious honor of being the world's worst celebrity humanitarian.

The poll - released on Thursday, by the Reuters Foundation's humanitarian website AlertNet, which surveyed more than 600 people from December 7 to 19 - ranked Hilton second-worst to Madonna among famous people with bad humanitarian reputations, followed by Oprah Winfrey and Bob Geldof. The poll also ranked celebrities with the best philanthropic reputations. Jolie was No. 1, trailed by Bono (who also made the "bad" list), Desmond Tutu, Bill Gates and Bill Clinton.

To top the list, Jolie had to overcome her own bad-girl, hard-partying reputation. Over the past six years, however, she's visited more than 20 humanitarian hot spots as a goodwill ambassador for the UN. On a trip to Iraq in August, she appealed for international aid to help millions of displaced Iraqis. She also has three adopted children, from Ethiopia, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Madonna, who once revelled in her own bad-girl reputation, adopted a child from Malawi in 2006. But controversy immediately followed when it was claimed Madonna had received special treatment from the Malawian government because of her celebrity.

"Madonna seems to do philanthropy the way she's done Indian culture, sex, and just about everything - like a disposable fad," said one anonymous voter. "Hope she doesn't get bored of her adopted African kid."

Yet Madonna's also been lauded by those in the humanitarian community for bringing the plight of AIDS orphans to the global stage and raising money to help them. In February she'll co-chair Gucci's 'A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF' with Frida Giannini, Drew Barrymore, Selma Hayek and Sarah Jessica Parker at the United Nations.

Jolie's husband Brad Pitt is also considered a serious humanitarian, despite his celebrity. He came in 10th on the list of famous people who are respected for their philanthropic work, just behind Don Cheadle and Mia Farrow. All three were recognized for their advocacy on behalf of Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.

U2's Bono made both lists. Apparently he's both respected and disrespected for his work in the fight against HIV/AIDS, extreme poverty and crippling debt because he's seen as doing so to feed his own ego.

"This guy probably believes he's the new Messiah," said one voter.