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A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Republic of Malawi and Mainland China paving way for establishment of diplomatic ties forced the Malawi government to reject meeting the visiting Taiwanese Foreign Minister, Nyasa Times has gathered.
Malawi has since shut the door on the Taiwan Foreign Minister James Huang who was expected in the country yesterday [Thursday] afternoon on a mission to rescue the crumbling ties.
He has since cancelled the trip according to a media release from the Central News Agency (CNA) in Malawi and confirmed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in both countries.
Sources close to the chairperson of the China-Malawi diplomatic establishment - Minister of Presidential and Parliamentary Affairs - Davis Katsonga - say they had 'fruitful discussions' with the Chinese.
"Katsonga who signed the MoU on behalf of the Malawi government described the talks with Beijing as very fruitful and enlightening," said the source on condition of anonymity.
Under the MoU, says our source, China has told Malawi that there is only one China and therefore the 'one-China policy' must apply. Malawi has also been prevented from opening its doors for Taipei's swift moves to prevent switching the 41 year old ties.
Huang is reported to have contacted his counterpart Foreign Minister Joyce Hilda Banda – totally sidelined in the switch negotiations - on his way to Malawi but was told President Bingu wa Mutharika was on holiday and Banda would be out of the country when he arrived.
"This situation is not usual and relations between Taiwan and Malawi have been placed in a rather sensitive state. Although Malawi has repeatedly said that our ties are unchanged, we must proceed with caution at this point. We can only say that we will be doing our utmost to deal with this situation," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh told Radio Taiwan International.
But the Malawi government despite agreeing to the visit say they were informed too late when Mutharika’s programme who is on leave had already been made.
"Mutharika is on holiday and cannot meet the Taiwanese envoy," said Ben Mbewe, secretary for foreign affairs in the capital city, Lilongwe.
An observer in Blantyre warned Taiwan to be careful in dealing with an administration that has had less interest from the 2004 when they assumed power.
“Taiwan is dealing with a government that came into power by crooked means and they are not straight in their dealings. Here is president who ditched his sponsoring party and got the financial support from Taiwan to launch his own Democratic Progressive Party. Now he is going behind the same supporters to broker a deal with China," cautioned Billy Phiri a student the University of Malawi, the Polytechnic.
Taiwan's aid package to Malawi averages US$400 million besides political party support to President Mutharika's ruling party says they will not up the ante to compete with China in dollar diplomacy.
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Please enter the code you see in the image:Image: Code: Posted by George Phiri, 05 January, 2008 02:05:09
Its a sad story to see the Malawi government ululating at not having the Taiwan Foreign Minister int the country, for the very fact that China refused Malawi to do so because of the pact they signed. I think it is now time that Malawi should (OUGHT) to wake up from the dogmatic slumber of "yes bwana" Malawi must choose and not blindly sign treaties like our ancestors who were uninformed, because they did not know how to write and read!! Wake up Malawi and rely on your own resources. Not on China
Posted by jon chenjera mbale, 05 January, 2008 02:05:09
To all. No body would stop Malawi having diplomatic relations with Mainland China or any other country. But what most of Malawians are worried about is the terms that Mainland China is dictating to us. Let us take the government of Uk, is the largest single donor to Malawi. I do not think it has publically dictated to us who should be our friends. I think Dr. John Chikago may be right that Diplomatic relations are not Business. It was going to make sense if Mainland China establishes its diplomatic relationship along side Taiwan. If Mainland China cannot accomodate its neighbour, and that neighbour happens to be a close and blood relations, what does this tell us. Probably God chose Malawi to be a place where the Mainland China and Taiwan officials would have a chance to meet during various Malawi govenment official engagements such us the opening of the National Budget etc. Probably these people would be able to shake hands and recommend to their various countries on the positive gestures. Is Malawi not missing what God has arranged that these unneccessary bitter enemies would meet in a small country to accord them a chance to talk to each other? Let us accommodate the two and see what has instal for us. Rumour is also rife in Malawi that Mainland China has gone to Mugabe to convice his brother Bingu to ditch Taiwan and then China would provide Food aid to Zimbabwe. Probably this rumour is true because we have read in one of weekend dailies that China is to give Zimbabwe 5,000 Mt of food aid soonest. Why is Zimbabwe seem to ruling Malawi by the back door, one resident of Mzuzu questioned. He continued to say that it was going to make sense if Muluzi was ruling by the back door NOT Mugabe. My take is accept Mainland China and do not kick away Taiwan. Let us teach them how to co-exist in even if we differ in idealogies. Rgds Jon
Posted by Mwatinso, 05 January, 2008 02:05:09
Now China is telling us what to do who to talk to and who not to talk to. Have we or have we not established a relationship with china? Why is there a grey area? Where is the Foreign Minister in all this? What is her position because that would be the government position not any other position. Shouldnt this be handled in a professional and diplomatic manner by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Why are international diplomats heading to Malawi without prior arrangement or agreement. A Foreign Minister is a senior Diplomat, how come he did not know in Advance that the counterparts are out of the country? Why are people who do not have the mandate to deal with the issue or the training dealing with a serious issue like changing allegiancies. Where are the trained diplomats in all this? This is not only about Dollars its the image of Malawi at stake as well. How does the foreign minister go on leave at a critical time when there is a diplomatic crisis in the horizon. Why is she being sidelined. No clear lines of responsibility, confusion? what is going on here?
Posted by Vyaya, 04 January, 2008 05:42:13
China is a good partner now than Taiwani if we are to make progress strategically as a nation.Someone is mentioning US or EU crying foul over China's substandardised products . Its only fair to say that lately China has been returning alot of substard US goods in retaliation, rotten meats imagine from US??? Didn't you see this? The problem is we Malawians politised everything.I bat even if US or EU receive substandard goods from China they can not do away with China now.China is a force to recon. with globally. US, EU only wants to keep us under their laps with donations but China wants business partnerships, they sale us goods we sale our Tobacco, sugar etc there too so US knows once Africans start doing this we will forget their donations. Ambiri tikurimbikira Taiwan kukhara mnzathu we are only mentioning chifukwa cha donations, how long shall Malawi live on donations? China and Russia now for fultiful partners.US/EU atipusisa ndikale ndi ma hand out omwe saonekanso phindu lake.
Posted by Joe, 04 January, 2008 05:26:54
It's time to be optimistic and to ante our competiviness a little bit. We can never fully be productive if we always try to avert competition. Unlike Zimbabwe, Malawi is not under sanctions and almost every country in the world trades with China.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the Republic of Malawi and Mainland China paving way for establishment of diplomatic ties forced the Malawi government to reject meeting the visiting Taiwanese Foreign Minister, Nyasa Times has gathered.
Malawi has since shut the door on the Taiwan Foreign Minister James Huang who was expected in the country yesterday [Thursday] afternoon on a mission to rescue the crumbling ties.
He has since cancelled the trip according to a media release from the Central News Agency (CNA) in Malawi and confirmed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs in both countries.
Sources close to the chairperson of the China-Malawi diplomatic establishment - Minister of Presidential and Parliamentary Affairs - Davis Katsonga - say they had 'fruitful discussions' with the Chinese.
"Katsonga who signed the MoU on behalf of the Malawi government described the talks with Beijing as very fruitful and enlightening," said the source on condition of anonymity.
Under the MoU, says our source, China has told Malawi that there is only one China and therefore the 'one-China policy' must apply. Malawi has also been prevented from opening its doors for Taipei's swift moves to prevent switching the 41 year old ties.
Huang is reported to have contacted his counterpart Foreign Minister Joyce Hilda Banda – totally sidelined in the switch negotiations - on his way to Malawi but was told President Bingu wa Mutharika was on holiday and Banda would be out of the country when he arrived.
"This situation is not usual and relations between Taiwan and Malawi have been placed in a rather sensitive state. Although Malawi has repeatedly said that our ties are unchanged, we must proceed with caution at this point. We can only say that we will be doing our utmost to deal with this situation," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh told Radio Taiwan International.
But the Malawi government despite agreeing to the visit say they were informed too late when Mutharika’s programme who is on leave had already been made.
"Mutharika is on holiday and cannot meet the Taiwanese envoy," said Ben Mbewe, secretary for foreign affairs in the capital city, Lilongwe.
An observer in Blantyre warned Taiwan to be careful in dealing with an administration that has had less interest from the 2004 when they assumed power.
“Taiwan is dealing with a government that came into power by crooked means and they are not straight in their dealings. Here is president who ditched his sponsoring party and got the financial support from Taiwan to launch his own Democratic Progressive Party. Now he is going behind the same supporters to broker a deal with China," cautioned Billy Phiri a student the University of Malawi, the Polytechnic.
Taiwan's aid package to Malawi averages US$400 million besides political party support to President Mutharika's ruling party says they will not up the ante to compete with China in dollar diplomacy.
=========================================================================
評論
Post your comment Comments (8 posted)
Your name: Your e-mail address: Add your comments
Please enter the code you see in the image:Image: Code: Posted by George Phiri, 05 January, 2008 02:05:09
Its a sad story to see the Malawi government ululating at not having the Taiwan Foreign Minister int the country, for the very fact that China refused Malawi to do so because of the pact they signed. I think it is now time that Malawi should (OUGHT) to wake up from the dogmatic slumber of "yes bwana" Malawi must choose and not blindly sign treaties like our ancestors who were uninformed, because they did not know how to write and read!! Wake up Malawi and rely on your own resources. Not on China
Posted by jon chenjera mbale, 05 January, 2008 02:05:09
To all. No body would stop Malawi having diplomatic relations with Mainland China or any other country. But what most of Malawians are worried about is the terms that Mainland China is dictating to us. Let us take the government of Uk, is the largest single donor to Malawi. I do not think it has publically dictated to us who should be our friends. I think Dr. John Chikago may be right that Diplomatic relations are not Business. It was going to make sense if Mainland China establishes its diplomatic relationship along side Taiwan. If Mainland China cannot accomodate its neighbour, and that neighbour happens to be a close and blood relations, what does this tell us. Probably God chose Malawi to be a place where the Mainland China and Taiwan officials would have a chance to meet during various Malawi govenment official engagements such us the opening of the National Budget etc. Probably these people would be able to shake hands and recommend to their various countries on the positive gestures. Is Malawi not missing what God has arranged that these unneccessary bitter enemies would meet in a small country to accord them a chance to talk to each other? Let us accommodate the two and see what has instal for us. Rumour is also rife in Malawi that Mainland China has gone to Mugabe to convice his brother Bingu to ditch Taiwan and then China would provide Food aid to Zimbabwe. Probably this rumour is true because we have read in one of weekend dailies that China is to give Zimbabwe 5,000 Mt of food aid soonest. Why is Zimbabwe seem to ruling Malawi by the back door, one resident of Mzuzu questioned. He continued to say that it was going to make sense if Muluzi was ruling by the back door NOT Mugabe. My take is accept Mainland China and do not kick away Taiwan. Let us teach them how to co-exist in even if we differ in idealogies. Rgds Jon
Posted by Mwatinso, 05 January, 2008 02:05:09
Now China is telling us what to do who to talk to and who not to talk to. Have we or have we not established a relationship with china? Why is there a grey area? Where is the Foreign Minister in all this? What is her position because that would be the government position not any other position. Shouldnt this be handled in a professional and diplomatic manner by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Why are international diplomats heading to Malawi without prior arrangement or agreement. A Foreign Minister is a senior Diplomat, how come he did not know in Advance that the counterparts are out of the country? Why are people who do not have the mandate to deal with the issue or the training dealing with a serious issue like changing allegiancies. Where are the trained diplomats in all this? This is not only about Dollars its the image of Malawi at stake as well. How does the foreign minister go on leave at a critical time when there is a diplomatic crisis in the horizon. Why is she being sidelined. No clear lines of responsibility, confusion? what is going on here?
Posted by Vyaya, 04 January, 2008 05:42:13
China is a good partner now than Taiwani if we are to make progress strategically as a nation.Someone is mentioning US or EU crying foul over China's substandardised products . Its only fair to say that lately China has been returning alot of substard US goods in retaliation, rotten meats imagine from US??? Didn't you see this? The problem is we Malawians politised everything.I bat even if US or EU receive substandard goods from China they can not do away with China now.China is a force to recon. with globally. US, EU only wants to keep us under their laps with donations but China wants business partnerships, they sale us goods we sale our Tobacco, sugar etc there too so US knows once Africans start doing this we will forget their donations. Ambiri tikurimbikira Taiwan kukhara mnzathu we are only mentioning chifukwa cha donations, how long shall Malawi live on donations? China and Russia now for fultiful partners.US/EU atipusisa ndikale ndi ma hand out omwe saonekanso phindu lake.
Posted by Joe, 04 January, 2008 05:26:54
It's time to be optimistic and to ante our competiviness a little bit. We can never fully be productive if we always try to avert competition. Unlike Zimbabwe, Malawi is not under sanctions and almost every country in the world trades with China.
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