[NYTr] Taiwan president starts visit to Nicaragua
 
Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:20:05 -0500 (CDT)


Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
AFP via Yahoo - Aug 27, 2007
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070827/wl_asia_afp/nicaraguataiwandiplomacy

Taiwan president starts visit to Nicaragua

MANAGUA (AFP) - Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has began a visit to
Nicaragua as he faced criticism at home over financial pledges he has
made during his Central American tour.

Chen was met at Manugua's international airport Sunday by President
Daniel Ortega and his wife as well as cabinet officials at the start of
his three-day visit designed to bolster ties to Nicaragua and shore up
diplomatic support for Taiwan, local media reported.

"It is my hope during this state visit that we can increase the bonds
of cooperation between the two countries," said Chen, who was
accompanied by a large delegation including business executives.

It was the second visit to Nicaragua by Chen this year to offer
assistance to Ortega's Sandinista government while drumming up backing
for Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations.

Chen arrived in Nicaragua as an opposition lawmaker on Sunday
criticized the president over his generous financial commitments made
during his visit to Central America.

Chen's pledges included a five-million US dollar loan to Honduras while
visiting the country last week and the possible construction of a
hydraulic power plant there at a cost of 300 million dollars.

A legislator from the leading opposition Kuomintang (KMT) blasted
Chen's financial largesse.

"Chen lavished money during his trip to Central America, but the
measure is a failure," KMT legislator Justin Chou told AFP.

"This is just a waste of taxpayers' money."

Chen earlier defended his measures as consistent with the former KMT
government's policies.

"Has the former KMT government not spent a lot of money?...they spent
even more," Chen told reporters covering the three-leg trip, Taiwan
television stations reported Sunday.

Chen also accused Beijing of stepping up its efforts to squeeze Taiwan
internationally. Taipei and Beijing have previously accused each other
of using money to lure away allies.

Taiwan recently launched its 15th bid -- endorsed by 15 allies -- to
secure a UN seat. Its application will likely come up for discussion at
a meeting of the General Assembly on September 19.

The island, under its official name the Republic of China, lost its UN
seat to China in 1971. Its efforts to rejoin have been repeatedly
blocked by Beijing.

Taiwan is recognised by 24 countries, half of them from Latin America.

In Nicaragua, Ortega asked his Taiwanese counterpart to provide
"long-term" investment in the country's agricultural sector.

During a visit with Chen to the northern city of Matagalpa, Ortega said
the two leaders spoke about Taiwan investment in agriculture and
livestock so that "we can advance in our struggle against hunger and
poverty."

Chen's stay in Nicaragua will include a scheduled visit to a hospital
specializing in heart diseases faced with financial difficulties.

 
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