Taiwan watches Vatican-China ties

Taiwan is paying close attention to interactions between the Vatican and China, the island’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday, adding that China has “repeatedly violated” a 2018 agreement on the appointment of bishops.
The Vatican, which only has formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, would like to establish a permanent office in China, its secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, said on Tuesday, in what would be a major upgrade of diplomatic relations.
The Vatican is one of only a dozen countries to maintain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan and Taipei has watched nervously as Pope Francis seeks to improve ties with Beijing.
Responding to Parolin’s comments, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it continued to promote co-operation with the Vatican and the Catholic Church in fields such as humanitarian assistance, and jointly defend the core values of religious freedom.