Taipei, Oct. 16 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Saturday Taiwan is unlikely to offer political contributions to any individual foreign political figure.
Chen made the remarks while attending an evening party co-sponsored by the International Cooperation and Development Fund under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan Thinktank, a private group.
Chen's statements came amid reports that Nicaragua President Enrique Bolanos may be impeached due to his alleged acceptance of political contributions from Taiwan and that former Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodriguez has been detained for allegedly accepting bribes, including political donations from Taiwan. "Taiwan's aid to foreign countries has not been done out of charity nor is it an act of 'dollar diplomacy.' We have offered aid primarily for helping resolving issues of human survival," Chen explained.
Based on this idea, Chen said, Taiwan is absolutely not likely to offer political donations to any individual foreign politician.
The evening party was organized to entertain foreign and local participants to a seminar on the general new world trends in international aid projects. Twenty-six young Taiwan volunteers who will soon head for 12 of Taiwan's diplomatic allies for volunteer services also attended the party.