The Vatican and China have settled their long-running dispute over the Status of bishops provisionally. Although supposedly not a “political agreement”, it is considered in Taiwan with concern
The exact Text of the agreement, which was signed at Peking between the representatives of both sides, is not known. So far, Beijing’s unilaterally appointed bishops for the official “Patriot-were belong to the Catholic Association”, automatically ex-communicated. Now, these will, it is supposed to be seven further eight people way, later on in the Catholic Church. Conversely, Beijing wants, it was reported that an unknown number of 36 from the Vatican-appointed bishops who belong to the persecuted so-called “underground Church” of China, subsequently recognize. For the future, the most important regulation is that a candidate for a Bishop’s post can only be of the Chinese religion of authority proposed to the Pope a veto, however, remains legal.
According to the Vatican, the purpose of the agreement – to be reviewed after one to two years is not a political but a pastoral. For greater freedom and autonomy of the local churches we need bishops who are recognized by the Pope and by the legitimate civil authorities of your country, quoted the FAZ the Secretary of state, cardinal Pietro Paolin, considered the driving force of this agreement. He called on the Catholics in China to reconciliation.
Fair with the Pro-government Bishop Zhang Hong in Beijing
Taiwanese Delegation in the Vatican?
In Taiwan, the agreement is considered to be of concern. Because the Vatican is one of only 17 States that maintain diplomatic Links with the government in Taipei instead of Beijing. The people’s Republic considered the independent and democratic Taiwan as part of its territory. Since Pope Francis left a few years ago talks about an agreement, it is speculated that Beijing was, in turn, to a rupture of relations.
In order to emphasize their stability, planning Taiwan apparently a diplomatic gesture. Vice-President Chen Jien-jen will give in mid-October, a Delegation to the Vatican, reported local media. The occasion was the canonization of Pope Paul VI and the martyred Salvadoran is Romero Archbishop. Even if Chen’s trip is not yet confirmed officially, it would be obvious: Taiwan’s Deputy head of state is a devout Catholic.
While he is regarded in the Vatican as a state guest, not can visit, like other Taiwan dignitaries, the Rest of Europe, including Germany, China pressure to isolate Taiwan politically, prevents the. The Vatican is Taiwan, and offers rare opportunities to present themselves on the political parquet as equal. When then-President Ma Ying-jeou, 2013, for the inauguration of Pope Francis to Rome, showed pictures of him in conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Taiwan’s government stressed in its response, the Vatican have made it clear that the new arrangements are diplomatic or political in nature. They relate solely to questions of faith. Also reports that the messenger of the Holy see relating in Taipei after several years of renovation soon return to the original Embassy building, be considered as an encouraging sign.
If the Christian symbols are too prominent, the authorities made short work of the process
Sudden loss of allies is nothing New
On the other hand, it would be for Taiwanese not a new experience, that supposedly stable diplomatic relations are still broken off suddenly. Since the assumption of office of President, Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, Beijing could move five countries to switch sides, most recently in August, El Salvador. China’s strategy aims to narrow Taiwan’s political space. Tsai seeks not an official Declaration of independence, refuses, but unlike her predecessor, to define Taiwan as part of a “One China”.
While China is accelerating the change of mind usually with financial incentives, such as loans or investments, would be in the case of the Vatican, rather the number of the faithful and that their Situation is crucial. In the people’s Republic of more than ten million Catholics, many of whom are suffering under either harassment or, rather, the uistischen party as Rome are obliged to live. In Taiwan, there are just 300,000, can practice their Faith unmolested. To a few hundred thousand, especially Filipino migrant workers.
Embassy of the Vatican in Taiwan
Appeal by the bishops of Taiwan
In a sign of the ongoing negotiations with China Taiwan had travelled seven bishops last may for the first time after ten years to a conversation with the Pope to Rome. You have asked Pope Francis to continue to protect Taiwan and not to hurt”,” said the Archbishop of Taipei, John Hung, then the American broadcaster Radio Free Asia. He had made it clear that Taiwan’s Catholics would react to a rupture of diplomatic relations with disappointed. “I said to the Pope: ‘Please don’t leave us alone under any circumstances.’ And he answered: ‘no way'”. He also have invited Francis to 2019 to Taiwan. It would be the first visit by a Pope to the island, but that it comes to that, with the new agreement, probably even less likely.
“If the Vatican is Taiwan really should drop it, it will still take a while,” said John Sullivan, a China and Taiwan expert at the University of Nottingham, the DW. “But it is the agreement a bit more likely.” If China keep its pace, it was in Taiwan in a few years without diplomatic Partner. The Vatican have a special meaning. “He would signal the Catholic countries in Central America that it is OK to switch sides.” Of the 17 countries with which Taiwan maintains its official state name “Republic of China” in diplomatic relations, four in Central and one in Paraguay, in South America.
To take international influence, Taiwan however, not only in official contacts, but also on shared democratic values. It maintains unofficial missions in more than 50 countries and maintains very good relations with the American Congress and the European Parliament. The parliamentarians adopted in Brussels until mid-September, a Resolution that condemned China’s aggressive stance towards Taiwan, and more participation of Taiwan in international organisations.