Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou left for two Latin American allies yesterday without a chequebook, which might be risky as one of his hosts is considering switching diplomatic ties to the mainland.
In what is seen as a test of whether his mainland engagement policy has helped achieve a cross-strait diplomatic truce, Mr Ma has chosen not to propose any foreign aid during his visits to Paraguay and the Dominican Republic - his first overseas trip since taking office in May.
The president said before departing that Taiwan would do all it could to improve ties with the mainland in order to stop their 'vicious competition or wasting resources' to lure each other's allies.
Mr Ma, of the Kuomintang, said Taiwan's foreign relations hinged on cross-strait ties. 'We have strongly felt that the foreign relations of the Republic of China are closely related to cross-strait relations, and this is why I seek to promote 'workable diplomacy' to achieve a cross-strait diplomatic truce,' he said.
Through that strategy, the two sides would be able to achieve not only reconciliation and a truce, but also co-existence and co-prosperity, thus ending the need for 'chequebook diplomacy', he said.
Paraguay's Fernando Lugo, whose inauguration Mr Ma will attend on Friday, said in April he would end Asuncion's 51-year relationship with Taipei and recognise Beijing. His foreign minister-designate, however, later indicated Mr Lugo wants to review Paraguay's ties with Taiwan.
