Taiwan president cancels visit to Indonesia

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.