Taiwan leader to visit Paraguay, Dominican Republic in August

Taipei - Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou will visit allies Paraguay and the Dominican Republic for eight days from August 12, Foreign Minister Francisco Ou said Tuesday. "The president is to attend the inaugural ceremonies of the newly elected presidents in Paraguay on August 15 and in the Dominican Republic on August 16," he said. Ma will make brief stopovers in Los Angeles on his way to Paraguay and in San Francisco on his way back from the Dominican Republic, Ou said. Taiwan has maintained official ties with Paraguay and the Dominican Republic, among the 23 diplomatic allies that recognize Taipei over Beijing, a rival of the island since they split at the end of a 1949 civil war. Ma, of the China-friendly Nationalist Party or Kuomintang who has adopted a policy to engage China and improve relations since he took office in... [read full story]