Taiwan president cancels visit to Indonesia
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Yogyakarta
Taiwan President Chen Shu-bian has scrapped his planned visit to Indonesia following protests from China and rejection from Jakarta.
Taiwan's state-funded Central News Agency said the decision to kill the planned trip to Yogyakarta had been made at a meeting late Saturday evening, which gathered high-level national security officials.
"The planned trip is gone. Nor does the president have plans to visit any other countries in Southeast Asia," the news agency quoted a "reliable source" as saying.
On Sunday, Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said that Jakarta would not receive the Taiwan president.
"We rejected the visit and denied the entry of the official should he insist on coming to Indonesia," Hassan told The Jakarta Post.
"I think (Taiwan is) fully aware that it will be very embarrassing should their president be denied entry by our authorities, so they have to postpone the plan," the minister said.
He stressed that Indonesia adheres to the One-China policy and does not acknowledge Taiwan as an independent state.
"However, we have many airports, so it is hard to keep track of those who enter the country," Hassan added.
When asked whether the decision to deny entry to President Chen will affect trade ties between Indonesian and Taiwan, Hassan replied, "Business has its own logic for profit."
President Chen was initially scheduled to arrive in Indonesia on Sunday and on Tuesday, to meet Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X to explore trade and investment opportunities for Taiwan businessmen in the province.
On Saturday, Yogyakarta's Provincial Secretary Bambang S.P. told the Post that the governor would receive the Taiwan president in a personal capacity.
Following the report, Beijing expressed its concern and warned Jakarta that such visits, in whatever capacity, "would undermine the friendly cooperation between China and Indonesia."
"As a result of which, (the visit) is not in conformity with the national interests of Indonesia," said a spokesman of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement made available to the Post Saturday.
"We expect and believe that the Indonesian government will abide by the commitment of the One-China Policy and give no chance to Taiwan authorities for its political plot," the statement said.
The diplomatic flaw was the second one in the past year, as Taiwan Vice President Annete Lu made a three-day visit to Bali and Jakarta earlier this August.
At that time, the Taiwan foreign ministry also said that the trip had been canceled, despite the fact that Lu stayed overnight in Bali.
Beijing expressed its disappointment and officially submitted a protest to Jakarta, as Lu was allowed to land on Indonesian soil and to meet Indonesian Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea.
The meeting followed a decision by Taipei to suspend new entry visas for Indonesian migrant workers, on the grounds that these workers were not capable enough to work in Taiwan.
Taiwan split from China after a civil war that ended in 1949, a separation which has never been acknowledged by Beijing.
Indonesia has no diplomatic relations with Taipei.