Taiwan vice president will visit Vatican to 'deepen ties'

Taiwan's vice president will visit the Vatican to "deepen ties" after the island's only official ally in Europe made a historic deal with Beijing, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after the landmark agreement between China and the Holy See on the appointment of bishops, which paved the way for a rapprochement between the Vatican and the communist country.

That raised questions over the future of official ties between Taiwan and the Vatican as China makes a concerted effort to poach the island's dwindling number of diplomatic allies.

China sees self-ruling democratic Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified and demands its allies forfeit recognition of the island.

The Vatican currently officially recognises Taipei, not Beijing.

Vice president Chen Chien-jen will visit the Vatican on October 14 to attend the canonisation of Pope John Paul VI, the foreign ministry said.

The visit will include a private audience with Pope Francis and ...