Taiwan|Haiti Earthquake Rare Chance To Participate On World Stage

The crippling earthquake in Haiti has offered Taiwan — viewed still by the rulers of China as a renegade province and kept, as a result, in relative diplomatic isolation — a rare chance to meaningfully participate on the world stage. Taiwan has had official relations with Haiti since 1956 and is no stranger to natural disasters itself, experiencing at least two or three significant tremors a year as well the ravages of tropical storms like the 2009 typhoon that claimed hundreds of lives. For the past week, Haiti's nightmare has dominated Taiwanese news headlines and led to an outpouring of sympathy and support. A large benefit concert for Haiti is due to be held in Taipei on Jan. 24.

Taiwan's government has already pledged $5 million in aid as well as committed almost 100 tons of humanitarian relief supplies. More importantly, urged on by aid experts and figures such as France's Finance Minister, Christine Lagarde, Taiwanese officials are mulling over the possibility of helping cancel Haiti's public external debt, which was measured in 2008 at around $1.8 billion in total. According to the International Monetary Fund, at least $91 million of Haitian debt is guaranteed by Taiwanese banks, making Taipei one of the country's chief creditors — a cachet that belies Taiwan's often peripheral standing in global affairs. "We want people to know that when there is a disaster in another country ... we are willing to provide assistance," Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou told reporters on Jan. 20. Ma may visit Haiti while on a tour of Central America next week.