Govt plays down calls for apology to Taiwan<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia declined on Friday to apologize to Taiwan for abruptly
\nbanning Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian from visiting last month,
\nsaying there was no official request for an apology.<\/p>\n
Foreign ministry spokesman Marty M. Natalegawa said the
\ngovernment had not received an official request for an apology,
\nadding that Indonesia did not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan.<\/p>\n
\"On the issue of Taiwan there is nothing new. That means our
\nposition is already clear, and although we have heard of calls
\nfor us to apologize we feel this problem need not be prolonged,\"
\nMarty said as quoted by detik.com on Friday.<\/p>\n
Taiwanese government officials demanded Indonesia apologize
\n\"properly\" for refusing to allow the visit by Chen.<\/p>\n
The president was due to visit Indonesia last month but a
\nmedia leak prompted a protest from China, leading to a last-
\nminute cancellation by the Indonesian side.<\/p>\n
China sees Taiwan as part of its territory and Indonesia's One
\nChina policy bars Jakarta from recognizing the Taipei government.<\/p>\n
Economic ties with Taiwan, however, have flourished, with
\nTaiwan investment here amounting to some US$17 billion and with
\nthousands of Indonesians working on the island.<\/p>\n
The planned visit by President Chen reportedly was arranged by
\nthe husband of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Taufik Kiemas.<\/p>\n
Taufik has no official capacity other than as a member of the
\nHouse of Representatives. As a businessman, however, he often
\npromotes Indonesian business interests abroad, including in
\nChina.<\/p>\n
Taiwan Vice President Lu earlier said Indonesia had repeatedly
\napologized in private for the failed visit, but added she wanted
\nIndonesia to apologize \"properly\".<\/p>\n
Taiwanese parliamentarians also urged their government to halt
\nall investment in Indonesia for what they regarded as the
\nunfriendly rejection of Chen's visit by Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda,
\nhowever, played down the economic threat, saying business
\nrelationships were based on profit only.<\/p>\n
Although the Indonesian government does not accept official
\nvisits from Taiwan, it has been open in the past to so-called
\n\"vacation diplomacy\".<\/p>\n
In August last year, Lu traveled as a tourist to Bali but
\nreportedly met with two Indonesian ministers and executives of
\nthe country's second largest political party, Golkar, in Jakarta
\non her way back home.<\/p>\n
China protested to Jakarta for allowing Lu to visit the
\ncountry.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-plays-down-calls-for-apology-to-taiwan-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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