Taiwan Today

El Salvador’s president-elect Mauricio Funes promised President Ma Ying-jeou that his administration would maintain diplomatic ties with Taipei despite forging closer economic and trade relations with Beijing. Following his arrival in El Salvador May 31, Ma met with Funes and outgoing President Elias Antonio Saca at the Presidential Palace. Ma said that based on his flexible diplomacy approach, Taipei “would not oppose” El Salvador’s policy of developing economic ties with Beijing. “Cross-strait relations involve not only competition but also cooperation,” he said. “Interaction between Taipei and Beijing will not affect Taiwan’s pursuit of greater international space.” Commenting on Ma’s remarks, officials from Taiwan accompanying the president on his Latin American visit said developments between Taiwan’s allies and Beijing were confined to the economic arena. In addition, Taiwan would not promote dual recognition. The president also attended the opening ceremony for Taiwan’s new diplomatic facility. During the event, Ma and Saca unveiled a plaque marking 68 years of ongoing cooperation and friendship between the two sides. “No matter who is in power in our country, relations between Taiwan and El Salvador will not change,” Saca said. The ROC government funded the building’s construction and former Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien presided over its groundbreaking ceremony in 2004. The first office building was completed in 2006, with the second being finished April 24. In a news release issued by El Salvador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the event, Taiwan was referred to as the “Republic of Taiwan,” instead of the country’s official name, Republic of China. Ma was also described as “President of Taiwan.”