Taiwan's foreign minister flies to Malawi again to save ties

Taipei - Taiwan sent its foreign minister to Malawi again on Wednesday to prevent the African nation from cutting ties with Taipei to recognize China.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh confirmed to the Central News Agency (CNA) that Foreign Minister James Huang and his aides, including Chang Yun-ping, head of the Department of African Affairs, flew to Malawi Wednesday evening.

The trip is Huang's second in a month to Malawi to save diplomatic ties.

Yeh said Huang had been informed of the reported visit by two Malawian ministers to Beijing, and felt it necessary to visit Malawi in a bid to save ties.

Yeh admitted that Taiwan-Malawi ties are fragile.

'He will discuss new cooperation projects with Malawian leaders, and find out if there are still areas in Malawi's development plans where Taiwan can assist,' CNA quoted her as saying.

'Taiwan and Malawi's four-decade friendship is based upon the fact that Taiwan has been Malawi's best cooperation partner. We will continue to communicate with Malawi from this position,' she said.

Malawi is one of the 24 countries which recognize Taiwan, but is mulling dumping Taiwan to recognize China.

On December 21, the Malawi's Nyasa Times reported that President Bingu wa Mutharika had approved recognizing China, and two ministers were to fly to Beijing on December 24.

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

The two ministers have returned home but the Malawian government has not announced if it will severe ties with Taiwan to recognize China yet.

Last month, Huang visited Malawi to consolidate ties, and twice summoned Malawi's ambassador to the Foreign Ministry to seek clarification on Malawi's plans. The ambassador insisted Malawi- Taiwan ties remain unchanged.

Huang admitted that Taiwan-Malawi ties were shaky because China had offered Malawi 6 billion US dollars to win over the landlocked copper-producing country in southern Africa.

China sees Taiwan as its breakaway province and is wooing Taiwan's diplomatic allies to switch recognition from Taipei to Beijing under Beijing's 'one-China' principle.