Taiwan to use Africa as back door for carbon credits

By Ralph Jennings

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan said on Wednesday it would use countries in Africa to get its first carbon credits for international trade, a move seen as part of the island's long-term bid to participate in the United Nations.

Barred from U.N. membership by China, Taiwan plans to obtain carbon credits by setting up solar and biomass companies in cash-strapped African countries, the island's environmental protection agency said ahead of a summit in Taipei with climate leaders from eight nations.

African countries including Taiwan diplomatic allies Burkina Faso, Gambia, Swaziland and Sao Tome and Principe would get credits through the U.N. Clean Development Mechanism and pass them on to Taiwan, an EPA official said.

"Our country, if it can meet needs in Africa by assisting in the investment of solar energy or bio-energy to get carbon credits, in the future it can exchange them in international carbon markets," the EPA said in a statement.

Efforts to join the world carbon trade would boost Taiwan's profile as the island tries to win approval for some sort of U.N. role that has been repeatedly blocked by China.

"It's a first step, and they will succeed eventually," said Nathan Liu, associate international affairs professor at Ming Chuan University in Taiwan. "This is a trial balloon. If China doesn't raise its voice, it's an encouragement for Taiwan."

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China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's forces won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists fled to the island.