Armando Siahaan, Jakarta – Israel and Taiwan on Monday became the only two countries with no diplomatic links with Indonesia, after the government and House of Representatives agreed on the opening of new diplomatic relationships with 21 countries.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa met with House Commission I, which oversees foreign affairs, to seek approval to formalize ties with 21 countries that are members of the United Nations. "With these 21 countries, there are no other countries with whom we don't have diplomatic relationships with, except for Israel and Taiwan," he said.

Out of the 21 new countries, eight are in Africa, including Bostwana, Niger, Chad and Malawi; three in the Pacific – Nauru, Kiribati and Tuvalu; two from Central America, Belize and El Salvador; five from the Caribbean, including Haiti and Barbados; two from Europe, San Marino and Montenegro; and one from Asia, Bhutan.

Marty reiterated the government's stance on its non-existent diplomatic ties with Israel and Taiwan.

"The Indonesian government will not open diplomatic relationships with Israel before it abides by all UN resolutions." Marty said Indonesia would only establish formal ties with Israel once "Palestine attains its independence, living side-by-side with Israel."

On Taiwan, Marty said that the government would stick with its one-China policy. "Ever since we revived our diplomatic relationship with China in 1990, it has regulated how [Indonesia] deals with Taipei," he said.

But Marty emphasized that even without a formal diplomatic relationship, the country's level of bilateral trade and economic exchange with Taiwan is still high. "There is nothing broken that needs to be fixed," Marty said.

With no single objection from the attending lawmakers, Mahfudz Siddiq, the chairman of House Commission I, said they "fully supported" the government's request.

Mahfudz noted that the opening of ties with the 21 countries was merely a formality, though, as Indonesia has already established positive relationships with them. "We're just clearing the deck," he said.

Still, he explained that formal ties were needed to better facilitate trade relations as well as for the government to ensure protection to its citizens traveling, working or residing in those countries.

The foreign affairs minister also said these countries predominantly have similar voting tendencies in the UN, given that they are members of organizations Indonesia is also a part of, namely the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77.

"In general, these countries have the same voting pattern as Indonesia, especially when it comes to development," he said. The only country that has voted in dissent with Indonesia was Sao Tome and Principe during the vote on East Timor's independence.