MOFA finds missing Taiwanese
　

ERROR OF JUDGEMENT: The foreign minister said the crisis engulfing Chad showed that Chadian President Idriss Deby's plan to use China to help him had backfired
　

By Jenny W. Hsu
STAFF REPORTER
Tuesday, Feb 05, 2008, Page 3

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) last night said that two Taiwanese who fled Chad have safely arrived in Cameroon.

"We have confirmed the two Taiwanese nationals are employees of CPC Corp, Taiwan. The two drove out of Chad and were not rescued by the Chinese army as reported," said ministry spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (葉非比).

Hundreds of expatriates have been evacuated from the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, after rebels attacked the city. The latest reports say the Chadian government had succeeded in retaking the city.

Taiwan severed diplomatic ties with Chad in August 2006 after N'Djamena agreed to switch recognition to Beijing in exchange for Chinese assistance in countering Sudan-backed rebel groups.

Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) said yesterday the crisis in Chad showed that Chadian President Idriss Deby's plan to use Chinese forces to defeat the rebels had backfired.

"Deby believed that China would use its clout in Sudan to defeat the rebels by cutting off their supplies and resources. It is now apparent that his plan has failed," he said.

The ministry said Taiwan does not have a representative office in either Cameroon or Chad.

Most Taiwanese working in Chad are employees of the CPC Corp, Taiwan.

In related news, Huang yesterday defended President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) visit to the Spratly Islands on Saturday, saying that as head of state Chen has a right and obligation to visit Taiwanese troops stationed on the island.

Huang said the controversy over the visit had been "blown out of proportion," especially by neighboring countries that criticized Chen's trip as a "provocative" move.

Six countries -- Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, China Vietnam and Malaysia -- claim sovereignty over the island chain.