Taiwan says its diplomatic ties with Holy See remain firm

Want China Times, CNA 2015-09-12

Ma Ying-jeou shakes hands with Pope Francis in Vatican City, March 19, 2013.
(File photo/China Times)

Diplomatic relations between Taiwan and the Holy See are still solid, a Taiwanese foreign affairs official said Friday, denying a media report that the Holy See might sever ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing by the end of the year.

"The report is untrue," said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Eleanor Wang. "Our bilateral diplomatic relations are solid and the two countries maintain close exchanges."

Wang was responding to an exclusive report Thursday on the Chinese-language news website Bowen Press, which said that the Holy See might establish diplomatic relations with Beijing by the end of the year or after Taiwan's presidential election in January.

Asked about the news report, the Holy See's representative to Taiwan, Monsignor Paul Russell, told CNA in an email that "the Apostolic Nunciature (Holy See Embassy) in Taiwan is going about its work normally."

"The Holy See and Republic of China are planning a joint cultural collaboration which will take place at the beginning of next year," said Russell, charge d'affaires of the Holy See's apostolic nunciature in Taiwan. He did not elaborate.

Since last year, there have been rumors that relations between the Holy See and Taiwan might be adversely affected by Pope Francis' efforts to improve ties with China.

However, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has said that its diplomatic relations with the Holy See remain solid, and Russell has described the ties as "excellent."

In 1942, the ROC established relations with the Holy See, which is now its only diplomatic ally in Europe.