Taiwan premier to meet Soeharto
Taiwan premier to meet Soeharto
TAIPEI (Agencies): Taiwan Premier Vincent Siew was due to meet Indonesian President Soeharto late yesterday to discuss ways to tackle economic turmoil sweeping Southeast Asia, reports here said.
"The high-level talks will be held tonight," an official was quoted by Taiwan television as saying from Jakarta.
Siew, who flew to Jakarta Monday, was scheduled to play golf with high-ranking Indonesian economic officials yesterday.
But neither Vice Foreign Minister Chen Chien-jen nor government spokesman David Lee who accompanied Siew to Indonesia would comment on the upcoming discussions.
Indonesian officials were tight-lipped when asked to confirm a Soeharto-Siew meeting, in an apparent move to avoid protest from China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province since their separation at the end of a civil war in 1949.
Siew spoke of the motivation behind the trip to Jakarta, trying to play down the political implications of his visit. "We are a crucial member of the Asian-Pacific region, and given our economic clout, we need to play a role in the region," he said.
"Therefore we are handling our ties with the region purely from that point of view," he added.
The regional financial crisis has given Taiwan ammunition in its quest for greater diplomatic recognition as it can provide aid because of its relatively strong economy.
Beijing has warned, however, that it opposes any official contacts by its diplomatic allies with the island.
Indonesia adopts a "One China" policy, recognizing the Beijing government as the sole representative of the Chinese people. Jakarta, however, has conducted brisk trade with Taiwan.
Taiwan's premier has already quietly visited Manila, and there was confusion over whether he had met with Philippine President Fidel Ramos.
Officials said the two had met, but Ramos told a news conference a day after Siew returned to Taipei: "I will deny I met with him... We still stick to a one-China policy, there is no question about that."