A Hong Kong bishop who's a critic of communist China has been tapped as a cardinal. Could that be good news for China's government? AP HONG KONG Bureau Chief WILLIAM FOREMAN on the political implications.
Among the 15 new cardinals Pope Benedict XVI installed Friday, perhaps the most complicated choice was Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen, an outspoken critic and champion of religious freedom in communist China.
While the installation of Bishop Zen might seem problematic for China's government, AP Hong Kong Bureau Chief WILLIAM FOREMAN says Zen's selection could work to the advantage of the communist state.
That's because of Taiwan, an island with diplomatic ties to the Vatican that China has long sought to reclaim. China hopes Zen's elevated status will help it establish diplomatic relations with the Vatican, thereby stealing Taiwan's last European diplomatic ally, and advancing its efforts to take back the island nation.
In his new role, Foreman believes Zen will continue to help the Vatican lobby China to allow religious freedom. Whether he's effective remains to be seen.
"On one hand, he's very vocal about how it's in the Vatican's best interest to cut ties with Taiwan and to start recognizing China," says Foreman. "On the other hand, he's very vocal in the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and China.
"He's also very vocal about expanding religious rights in China and this is something that must displease China and must raise questions in their mind about him."
___
TAIWAN
To China, Taiwan is a piece of lost real estate it desperately wants back. The small, leaf-shaped island, which lies about 100 miles off of China's southeastern coast, split away from China amid a civil war in 1949.
Taiwan insists it's an independent nation and shores up its argument by claiming that it still has diplomatic relations with a handful of governments -- most of which are poor nations in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Having diplomatic relations "is kind of a prerequisite for statehood," says Foreman. "If you're going to be a real country you have diplomatic relations with other nations and the Vatican is Taiwan's last ally in Europe, and China would love to steal it away."
___
ZEN'S ROLE
Diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the Chinese government broke off in 1951. Since then, China has had its own state-approved churches and Zen has been the Vatican's point man in trying to broker a deal with the communist party to resume diplomatic ties and official relations between the two sides.
"Zen has frequently said that the Vatican is willing to cut ties with Taiwan if they can make some deal with China, so this would be the most attractive thing for Beijing in any kind of deal with the Vatican," said Foreman. "This would be the kind sweetener in its deal."
___
UNDERGROUND CHURCH
It's widely understood that the Vatican has installed some members in China, "we just don't know about it," says Foreman. "In a sense there are two different churches in China: the official Church and an underground church led by bishops and priests that have been quietly appointed by the Vatican."
___
Jaime Holguin is an asap reporter.
___
Want to comment? Sound off at soundoffasap@ap.org .
©2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
