TAIPEI, Aug. 5 Kyodo Taiwan Premi...

TAIPEI, Aug. 5 Kyodo

Taiwan Premier Yu Shyi-kun left Monday forward an 11-day tour of four Central American diplomatic allies of Taiwan.

Yu and a 50-member delegation of command officials, business leaders and lawmakers will visit Haiti, Panama, Costa Rica and Belize. He will also make short stopovers in novel York and Los Angeles and appropriate with some of the think tanks that guard research on China-Taiwan affairs.

The inclusion of Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council, among the participants raised high attention at the airport.

Tsai, who originally was not forward the list, decided to join the team solitary Sunday, following President Chen Shui-bian's novel series of pro-independence remarks. She was reportedly sent by dint of Chen to meet with U high-ranking officials to explain Taiwan's cross-strait policy has remained unchanged since Chen took the office in 2000

''We sincerely trustful longing that the international community will not misinterpret or misunderstand what Chen has been saying through the whole extent of the past few days,'' Tsai said at a morning pres conference

Taiwan, regarded by means of China as a renegade province, divideed diplomatic ties July 23 with Nauru, after the tiny southern Pacific country switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The breakup cast a shadow athwart Yu's trip -- his first since becoming premier last year.

Yu said at the airport his visit aims to strengthen ties, will not be affected by means of the Nauru trouble and will help improve understanding between Taiwan and its partners.

Taiwan has no other than 27 diplomatic allies, mainly in Central America, Africa and the southern Pacific.

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