There is no cause for alarm over diplomatic relations between Taipei and the Vatican.Beijing has yet to change its mind about bowing to Pope Benedict’s demand that he appoint all Catholic bishops in China.
Taiwan has to do what it can to keep its ties with the Holy See, which is practically the only diplomatic ally it does not have to buy, and reports from Beijing that China has rejected the papal demands but is willing to talk certainly cause some concern in official Taipei.The demands were made after the recent death of Fu Tieshan, bishop of Beijing.China does not want to seek papal approval of the appointment of Father Li Shan to succeed the deceased bishop, who did not have the blessing of the Holy See.
There are some 12 million Catholic faithful in China, but at least half of them belong to the government-controlled church, over which the Holy See has no authority.The other half do not openly worship.Beijing’s patriotic church appoints all bishops in China.
The Vatican has never ceased to try to set up diplomatic ties with Beijing, which were cut off in 1951, after Mao Zedong’s proclamation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.No Chinese leaders have agreed to let the pope station his nuncio in Beijing, for they believe that would interfere with their control over religion.Countless rounds of negotiation have been held between Beijing and the Vatican to no avail.
The stalemate cannot be solved because the Holy See insists that the pope alone has the power to appoint bishops.Of course, the Vatican has moderated its stand.It is ready to accept the Polish formula, under which the Chinese name all the bishops whom the pope unconditionally approve.That is its bottom line.
What Beijing is afraid of is that the Catholic faithful may – and most likely will – follow the pope after he has the nominal power of bishopric appointment.No Chinese leaders can tolerate it.As a result, they will exhaust all alibis for keeping their control over the appointment of bishops in China.
The fact is that there is nothing to talk about between Beijing and the Vatican.The pope cannot give up his power of appointment, while China will never agree to cede – even only nominally – its control over the Chinese Catholic faithful to the Holy See. China may agree only when its leaders are convinced that their Vatican ties outweigh their religious control over the people.In the meantime, Taipei may rest assured that its diplomatic relations with the Vatican remains intact.
（本文刊載於96.08.14 China Post第4版，本文代表作者個人意見）
