TAIPEI - TAIWAN'S President Ma Ying-jeou is scheduled to leave for Central America on Monday, his second visit to the region in a month, to shore up ties with allies there, his spokesman said on Sunday.

Mr Ma will attend Panama's presidential inauguration of Ricardo Martinelli on Wednesday, and then travel on to Nicaragua and Honduras, Mr Ma's spokesman Wang Yu-chi told AFP.

However, Chinese officials last week called on leaders of other countries to avoid contact with Mr Ma while in Panama, sparking criticism from Taiwan's opposition that Mr Ma's 'diplomatic truce' was not reciprocated by Beijing.

'The two sides have been divided for such a long time and there is no denying that there are some differences on various issues which cannot be eliminated overnight,' Mr Wang said.

Still, 'cross-strait ties have been on a positive track since last year', he added.

Beijing opposes any overseas visits by officials from Taiwan, which it still regards as part of its territory to be reunified by force if necessary although the island has governed itself since the end of a civil war in 1949.

China had repeatedly protested to Washington over the US transit stops made by Mr Ma's predecessor Chen Shui-bian, who angered Beijing with his pro-independence rhetoric. But relations have improved dramatically since Mr Ma, of the China-friendly Kuomintang, came to power in May last year.

Mr Ma's 'diplomatic truce' calls for an end to the decades-old tug-of-war with China over the island's bid for international recognition.

Both sides had accused each other of using generous financial packages to ensure the loyalty of governments or persuade them to switch allegiance, especially in Africa, Latin America and the Pacific.

Only 23 nations formally recognise Taipei over Beijing. -- AFP