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Macedonian FM Seeks Reestablishing Diplomatic Relations with China
Macedonian Foreign Minister Alexandar Dimitrov set off last Sunday for Beijing to seek reestablishing diplomatic relations with China and formally sever "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities.
According to an official with the Macedonian Foreign Ministry, the Macedonian government will inform the Taiwanese institution in Skopje, capital of Macedonia, of this decision in the form of an official memorandum. The official indicated that Skopje wished to promote economic cooperation with Taiwan. The latter censured Macedonia for its decision and threatened with withdrawal of its enormous investment in the country.
News from the Macedonian Foreign Ministry on last Friday shows that Dimitrov will sign a statement with Beijing Monday to accept the "One China Policy."
The government of Macedonia announced on June 12 its decision to reestablish diplomatic relations with China, which means it will automatically break off its two-year-long so-called diplomatic relations with Taiwan, established in February 1999 when the then leader of Taiwan Lee Teng-hui was engaging in promoting his "money diplomacy" in the world, the Taiwan authorities promised to offer aid worth US$300 million in cash to Macedonia and set up an industrial park, with US$1-billion long-term investment in this country so long as Macedonia "establishes diplomatic relations" with Taiwan.
However, according to reports from Ta Kung Pao, a newspaper of Hong Kong, Taiwan has so far only made direct investment of US$20 million in Macedonia and supplied it with US$150 million loans and technological aid. Besides, the "free trade zone", promised to be built near Skopje by Taiwan authorities, covers quite a large area, but to this date, there are only several half-completed buildings there.
By PD Online Staff Deng Gang
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