Grange
Posted - 2005/4/5 下午 12:47:45
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The Vatican wants to cut formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognize the island's rival China because the move would give Catholics more freedom on the mainland, Hong Kong's bishop was quoted as saying Tuesday in a newspaper.
The report didn't say whether outspoken Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen thought that the death of Pope John Paul II - an ardent campaigner against communism - would create new momentum for establishing ties with the communist government in Beijing.
The Vatican is Taiwan's only European diplomatic ally and rumors have long been circulating that the Holy See plans to soon sever official relations with Taipei. It would be a big blow to Taiwan, which competes fiercely with China for recognition since the two sides split amid civil war in 1949.
Beijing claims that self-ruled, democratic Taiwan is part of China and shouldn't act like an independent nation with foreign relations with other countries. Taiwan only has official ties with 26 countries - mostly small and impoverished nations in Africa and Latin America.
Tuesday, the South China Morning Post quoted Zen as saying the Vatican was ready to cut ties with Taiwan.
"The Holy See has been thinking of giving up Taiwan. This is a difficult (decision), but it has decided to do it," Zen was quoted as saying. "There is however no way that (it would) do so before negotiations. We have got to start the negotiation before talking about what we can give."
Zen said that church officials in Taiwan would understand the move. "If the Holy See does not establish ties with China, Catholics there will no have real freedom," Zen was quoted as saying.
China's communist leaders ordered Catholics to break ties with the Vatican in 1951, and Catholics are only permitted to worship in state-sanctioned churches. But millions more worship in unauthorized "house churches," and the government frequently harasses and arrests followers and clergy of the underground church.
- Dow Jones Newswires -
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