c. 1997 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY _ Amid China’s ongoing efforts to undermine attacks on the sovereignty of Taiwan, the offshore territory Beijing considers a renegade province, Taiwanese Vice President Lien Chan visited Pope John Paul II on Tuesday (Jan. 14) in an attempt to shore up the Vatican’s continued support for the independent state.

Lien, who also presented the Vatican with a $1 million humanitarian donation, said the 35-minute visit with the pope reinforced the 40-year relationship between Taiwan and the Holy See. Lien also invited the pope to visit Taiwan, which the pope said he would consider.”I firmly believe that our relationship will continue to be friendly, close and a mutually beneficial one,”Lien said at a news conference following the meeting.”This trip only reaffirms my convictions.” In a brief statement, the Vatican said John Paul and Lien discussed”the present international situation with particular attention to Asia.”It said Taiwan’s $1 million donation would be designated for reconstruction efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina and for Burundi and Rwanda.

The session marked the second straight day that the pope has angered Beijing, which routinely complains about meddling in its internal affairs when a sovereign government accepts a visit from a high-ranking Taiwan official.

On Monday, the pope told Beijing it should respect religious freedom in Hong Kong after it assumes control from Great Britain in July. The Vatican is concerned about the fate of some 400,000 Hong Kong Catholics who will then be subject to the laws of China, which does not recognize an independent Catholic Church.

Beijing responded firmly to the pope’s comments.”China acts in line with its own national circumstances in administering its religious affairs,”said Shen Guofang, a foreign ministry spokesman.”There should be no interference by the Vatican.” Recently, several prominent Vatican officials have openly discussed the possibility of establishing relations with China, if it allows the church to operate freely _ talk which has put Taiwan on edge.

The Vatican is the only state in Europe, and one of just 30 in the world, that recognizes Taiwan, and the disappearance of formal diplomatic ties with the Holy See would be a considerable psychological blow to the government.

In the news conference after the papal meeting and a separate session with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Lien refused to discuss the possibility of the Vatican establishing relations with Beijing.”I think it would be interesting if I answered you,”he said,”but this is highly hypothetical and therefore I won’t answer you.” But China’s practice of repressing religious freedom was clearly on Lien’s mind when he described Taiwan-Vatican ties.”The relationship between our two countries is based on a union, a commonality of ideals and goals,”he said.”We have freedom of belief and we all believe in human values and on that basis we believe that the relationship between our two countries will continue to be friendly and strong.” With the South African government recently deciding to sever relations with Taiwan in favor of China and its vast economic markets, Taipei has becoming increasingly edgy about retaining ties to the outside world.

But despite talks one year ago between Beijing and the Vatican on the possibility of re-establishing diplomatic relations, which were severed in 1957, no changes are foreseen until China lifts its ban on activities of Catholics who swear loyalty to Rome.

Catholics in China must belong to the state-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, and Catholic bishops are appointed by the government, not the Vatican. Catholics loyal to Rome often worship in secret.

Many clergy and lay Catholics have been jailed for defying the Chinese government. Last March, a 75-year-old Roman Catholic bishop was sentenced to three-years in prison for hosting a Mass at his home.

These practices continue to rankle the pope, who has sought to use his pulpit to exact concessions from Beijing.

Last December, in a live broadcast to China, the pope harshly criticized the Chinese government for refusing to recognize the independence of the Roman Catholic Church and urged Catholics to abandon the state religion and express their allegiance to Rome.

MJP END HEILBRONNER