China deploys 100 more missiles, Taiwan confirms TAIPEI (AFP): Taiwan's Defense Minister Tang Fei confirmed on Wednesday reports that China was deploying nearly 100 of its newest short-range missile systems at a base across from the island. "The information we gathered is close to the reports," Tang told journalists. "The missiles are apparently aimed at us ... We are keeping a close eye on the development," he said.

DKB won't buy RI bank TOKYO (Dow Jones): Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank Ltd. said Wednesday it has decided to decline the offer by Daiwa Bank of a stake in Daiwa Bank's 85 percent-owned subsidiary in Indonesia, PT Daiwa Perdania Bank. Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank could not solve differences with Daiwa Bank over the terms of the deal, a Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank spokesman said, declining to elaborate further.

Local elections set for June 10, 2000: PPL JAKARTA (JP): The Local Election Committee (PPL) announced on Wednesday that elections in 32 regencies and mayoralties across the country's three new provinces would be held simultaneously on June 10 next year.

Japanese experts upbeat on RI's debt JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's external debt will be manageable, even at a moderate economic growth rate of between 3 percent and 4 percent, as long as export growth occurs sufficiently faster than import growth, according to a proposal by five prominent Japanese economists. "In our view, Indonesia is not insolvent, and will remain solvent as long as the economy is well managed," stated the proposal publicized here late on Wednesday.

Problem of KKN Minister of Manpower Bomer Pasaribu's recent reaction to the public suspicion that he may be involved in corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) reflects an interesting viewpoint. Mr. Bomer said that because the President recently gave him an official assignment, this is proof that he is not one of the three ministers being investigated for KKN. This viewpoint suggests that personal corruption is a matter to be divined from externalities. Instead, shouldn't Mr.

Opposition plans dirty tricks campaign: Mahathir JOHOR BARU, Malaysia (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, buoyed by pre-election praise from the visiting Chinese premier and soaring economic growth figures, accused on Wednesday a "desperate" opposition of planning a dirty tricks campaign.

Prosecutor says former bank directors guilty of transfer JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor said in a preliminary hearing on Wednesday that the four former executives of Bank Bali were guilty of authorizing the transfer of a cessie contract. The contract, totaling Rp 798,091,770,000, was transferred to private firm PT Era Giat Prima (EGP), although the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) later annulled the contract.

NU keeps Pancasila as its legal basis KEDIRI, East Java (JP): After heated committee debates at the national congress, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) decided on Wednesday to retain Pancasila as its legal basis. Hafids Utsman, chairman of the congress' commission for organizational matters, claimed the final decision won support from a majority of commission members. "This decision is in line with the 1999 Political Parties and Mass Organizations Law.

Most Asian currencies flat as rampant won extends rise SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Asian currencies again took a back seat to a rampant won in Asian trading Wednesday. The won extended its recent rises, jumping as much as 0.8 percent to its highest level since late June on more repatriation of funds from a capital raising in the U.S., and on foreign purchases of South Korean stocks due to the nation's strong economic outlook.

Forest guards held hostage SEMARANG: Four forest guards are being held hostage and a patrol car was vandalized when 200 residents of Karangbendum village in the Cilacap regency looted timber in a nearby forest. Chief of forest guards, Pamuji, said on Wednesday negotiations to ask for the release of his staff were underway. He said the mob was involved in a one-sided clash with 10 of his staff, who tried to prevent the residents from felling teakwood trees in the forest.