Taiwan foreign minister quits over US spat

6.30pm

TAIPEI - Taiwan accepted the resignation on Saturday of Foreign Minister Eugene Chien, who quit to take responsibility for the loss of a good ally in Washington against China's diplomatic stranglehold.

Therese Shaheen, Washington's top diplomat for Taiwan affairs, quit amid speculation she had clashed with the White House for being too pro-Taiwan at a time when the US was trying to maintain a delicate balance between its ties with Taipei and Beijing.

Critics said the foreign ministry had abused Shaheen's support for domestic political gains, leading to the departure of an unusually vocal advocate for the island.

Chien offered to step down on Friday to take responsibility.

"The premier contacted Minister Chien three times to try to get him to stay," cabinet spokesman Lin Chia-lung told a news conference on Saturday.

"But Minister Chien was determined to leave so the premier accepted his resignation and has informed the president."

China views self-governing Taiwan as a renegade province that must be reunited, by force if necessary. Beijing uses its political and economic clout to isolate Taipei internationally, and only 26 countries have diplomatic ties with the island.

The United States switched recognition to Beijing in 1979 but remains the island's main arms supplier.

Shaheen resigned on Wednesday from the role of chairwoman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which oversees US interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

The US State Department said Shaheen had quit for personal reasons and declined comment on reports that Beijing had pressured Washington for her departure.

Taiwan's top diplomat in Washington, Chen Chien-jen, has also offered to resign but agreed to stay until May 20, when the next administration begins.

Chen narrowly won re-election on March 20 in a poll being challenged by his opponent.

- REUTERS