Taiwan FM here on private visit

JAKARTA (JP): Taiwan Foreign Minister John Chang arrived in town yesterday but Indonesian officials, in keeping with the country's "One-China" policy, have refused to confirm his presence.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas twice rebuffed reporters who asked about the Taiwan minister's visit.

"There is no such visit," he replied sharply on both occasions.

Chang's presence, apparently in a private rather than an official capacity, has been kept under wraps with officials pleading ignorance of his visit.

But informed sources said that Chang met Alatas yesterday afternoon, and that later he and his entourage had a two-hour meeting with State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie at his office on Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta.

When journalists approached Habibie's office, public relations officers confirmed that a Taiwan delegation would be meeting Habibie.

However they said they had been instructed to refuse press coverage of the visit which was meant to be discreet.

Despite close business contacts with Taiwan, Indonesia claims to adhere to a "one-China" policy, only recognizing the government in Beijing. Beijing considers Taiwan to be a renegade province.

Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui once visited the resort island of Bali in what government officials claim was a vacation. They also claim he "accidentally" met President Soeharto who was also on holiday there.

The informed sources revealed yesterday that Chang's visit should also be looked upon as a private excursion and not in his capacity as a foreign minister.

However, the sources admitted that political issues such as the overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea were mentioned in his meetings.

Apart from meeting Habibie and Alatas, Chang's agenda remained a mystery as officials played a game of hide-and-seek with the journalists trying to catch a glimpse of the Taiwan minister.

When asked, the Taiwan economic trade office was unable to confirm his visit yesterday. (mds)