Taiwan president will not attend Pope Francis’s funeral

Taiwan to send former vice president despite Vatican being one of country’s few diplomatic alliesPope Francis’s funeral – latest updatesTaiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, will not be attending the funeral of Pope Francis, despite his foreign ministry saying earlier it was their “most important aim” in negotiations with the Vatican that he be there in person.The ministry announced on Wednesday that Taiwan would be sending its former vice president, Chen Chien-jen, as special envoy. Chen has deep ties with the Vatican and met Pope Francis six times, but the decision means Taiwan’s delegation will be without a serving government official, despite the Vatican being one of Taiwan’s few diplomatic allies. Continue reading...

Taiwan president will not attend Pope Francis’s funeral

Taiwan to send former vice president despite Vatican being one of country’s few diplomatic allies

Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, will not be attending the funeral of Pope Francis, despite his foreign ministry saying earlier it was their “most important aim” in negotiations with the Vatican that he be there in person.

The ministry announced on Wednesday that Taiwan would be sending its former vice president, Chen Chien-jen, as special envoy. Chen has deep ties with the Vatican and met Pope Francis six times, but the decision means Taiwan’s delegation will be without a serving government official, despite the Vatican being one of Taiwan’s few diplomatic allies. Continue reading...