China urges S'pore to avoid trouble over Taiwan

China urges S'pore to avoid trouble over Taiwan

BEIJING (Agencies): China urged Singapore yesterday to avoid
harming bilateral relations but stopped short of demanding that
the city state cancel a planned visit by Vice President Lien Chan
of Taiwan.

"We are seriously concerned about this news and have made
representations to the Singapore side," Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Tang Guoqiang said when asked to comment on Lien's
planned Jan. 1 to Jan. 4 holiday in Singapore.

Singapore does not recognize Taiwan, and Taipei has said
Lien's visit will be an unofficial holiday.

Beijing, which views Taiwan as a rebel province not entitled
to official relations with other countries, called on its
Southeast Asian ally to avoid harming ties.

"We hope the Singapore government will, proceeding from the
overall friendly interests of the two nations, solve this problem
and avoid unnecessary interference or damage to bilateral
relations," Tang said.

"Vice President Lien, his wife, other family members and
friends are to leave for Singapore on New Year's Day for a four-
day vacation. They are scheduled to return on Jan. 4," a foreign
ministry statement said.

Lien was expected to meet with senior Singapore statesman Lee
Kwan Yew, President Ong Teng Cheong and Prime Minister Goh Chok
Tong during his four-day "private vacation," local newspapers
reported.

Taiwan does not have diplomatic ties with Singapore, which
recognizes Beijing instead of Taipei as the legal government of
all China.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Jason Hu declined to comment on Lien's
trip.

The visit would not be the first time Singapore has upset
Beijing over Taiwan.

Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong made a surprise Nov. 28
"transit stop" in Taiwan, where he discussed Asia's currency
crisis with Taiwan Premier Vincent Siew at Taipei's airport.

Although Beijing's response then was mild, it cautioned
Singapore that its Taiwan ties must remain limited to unofficial
economic relations.

Beijing and Taipei have been diplomatic rivals since the
communists won the Chinese civil war and drove the defeated
Nationalists into exile in 1949.

Tang said Taiwan could maintain trade and cultural links with
other countries, but reiterated Beijing's stance that the island
was a part of China.