Protesters burn Singaporean flag

Protesters burn Singaporean flag

TAIWAN: Demonstrators burned Singapore's flag on Friday in southern Taiwan while protesting a recent speech by the Southeast Asian nation's foreign minister, who warned that Taiwanese independence supporters were risking a war with China.

The small group of protesters lit a fire in a metal barrel and dipped Singapore's red-and-white flag into the flames while chanting, "Singapore is an informer" in Kaohsiung, the island's second-biggest city.

Singapore and Taiwan have traditionally had friendly ties, but relations turned chilly after Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo gave a speech last week at the United Nations that some Taiwanese thought criticized Taiwan unfairly.

Yeo warned that some Taiwanese groups were pushing for independence and this would spark a war with China that would drag in other countries.

The speech angered Taiwanese Foreign Minister Mark Chen, who complained that the Singaporean official did not mention how China was threatening Taiwan with hundreds of missiles. -- AP