Church in China: The head of the only Roman Catholic Church on Chinese soil held out the prospect of warmer relations with China yesterday when he said the Vatican may give up its diplomatic ties to Taiwan and recognise Beijing instead
"The Vatican is planning to give up Taiwan. There's no other way. Even though this is a difficult thing to do, it has decided to go ahead," said Bishop Joseph Zen, pastoral head of Hong Kong's Roman Catholic diocese.
"But the bishop in Taiwan understands this. If the Holy See does not establish ties with China, Catholics there will not have real freedom," Dr Zen said, speaking after a requiem mass for the late pontiff in Hong Kong.
But he insisted that China would have to guarantee genuine religious freedom before there would be any changes to the status quo.
There are around 12 million Roman Catholics in China, who risk arrest by worshipping in underground churches.
Priests and bishops are routinely harassed and detained by police.
He said any change in ties with Taiwan would happen with great reluctance and there would have to be thorough and formal talks before there were changes.
The Vatican has never before unilaterally cut diplomatic ties.
The hints at rapprochement come just days after the death of John Paul II. The Chinese government sent a message of condolence after the Pope's death and expressed hopes his successor would improve relations with Beijing.
However, on the day before Beijing sent its sympathy telegram, the Vatican confirmed reports that Chinese police had made a wave of arrests of leading clerics in recent weeks, including three elderly bishops.
Significantly, the Vatican did not issue a formal protest at the arrests, which some clerics have interpreted as a sign that relations may be already be thawing.