KL backs Taiwan link with ASEAN

KL backs Taiwan link with ASEAN

TAIPEI (DPA): Malaysia supported Taiwan becoming a dialog partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) yesterday, becoming the first ASEAN member to voice support.

Malaysian Trade and Industry minister Datin Paduka Rafidah, made the stance at the end of the first Taiwan-Malaysia economic cooperation conference.

Singapore and the Philippines have privately backed admitting Taiwan as an ASEAN dialog partner.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. All of them have diplomatic ties with China, which sees Taiwan as its province.

ASEAN has five dialogue partners - the United States, China, the European Union, Japan and Australia.