Premier Siew ends his three-day Asian tour

JAKARTA (JP): Taiwan Premier Vincent Siew headed back to Taipei yesterday ending a three-day visit shrouded in secrecy here.

"The Prime Minister and his entourage left for Taipei on a commercial flight this (yesterday) afternoon," a diplomatic source confirmed.

Indonesian officials were tight-lipped about the visit and refused to confirm reports that Siew met with President Soeharto Tuesday evening.

But a source, who asked not to be named, said Taiwan's prime minister met Soeharto for two hours at his residence on Jl. Cendana in Central Jakarta.

"Your government is very concerned about China," the source added.

Indonesia maintains a one-China policy in which it only recognizes Beijing. However, commercial ties between Jakarta and Taipei remain strong with Taiwan having an economic representative office here. Taiwan is one of Indonesia's top-10 foreign investors with over US$13 billion.

Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui visited Bali and met President Soeharto on a "private capacity" in 1994. The visit drew strong criticism from China.

A diplomatic source added that Siew also met with State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita and State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, along with Taiwan businesspeople here.

In Taipei, the official Central News Agency (CNA) reported yesterday that Siew and Soeharto discussed the regional financial crisis.

CNA said Siew refused to confirm his meeting with Soeharto, citing deference for his hosts, but called the trip a success. "The outcome was better than we had originally hoped for," he said.

Siew also confirmed meeting with Habibie. He said Indonesia had not requested any aid or financial assistance.

"Their greatest wish is that Taiwan investors in Indonesia stay on," Siew was quoted as saying.

Siew was in Indonesia as part of a tour which included Singapore and the Philippines.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Shen Guofang repeated assertions Tuesday that Siew's visits and offers of aid were simply a pretext to increase Taiwan's international standing.

"We hope that countries concerned will maintain vigilance against the political moves of the Taiwan authorities and properly handle their relations with Taiwan," Shen said. (prb/mds)