Taiwan reviews bilateral programs with Indonesia

Taiwan reviews bilateral programs with Indonesia

SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Taiwan is in the process of reviewing a 200,000-ton rice deal with Indonesia, along with other bilateral programs, in view of anti-Chinese incidents that occurred during the May riots in Indonesia, Roy Y. Wu, spokesman for Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Dow Jones Newswires yesterday.

To help it avoid a looming food crisis, Taiwan had earlier agreed to ship Indonesia the rice under a loan agreement.

But the "unfortunate (anti-Chinese) incidents" that occurred during Indonesia's social unrest in May has led Taiwan to review its bilateral programs with Indonesia, Wu said.

Hundreds of ethnic Chinese women in Indonesia are said to have been raped or killed during the social unrest.

"We are watching closely the situation in Indonesia and continue to review all our bilateral cooperation programs, including the rice project," said Wu. "We attach great importance to the mutually beneficial relations with Indonesia. On the other hand, we're very much concerned about the safety and well-being of our people in Indonesia."

He also said Taiwan is monitoring the actions of the Indonesian task force set up in mid-July to investigate the reported rapes that occurred in May.

"We hope the task force will carry out its goal of uncovering the criminals and bringing them to justice. And in the meantime, to reinforce the protection of our ethnic Chinese there," said Wu.

Wu declined to say if Taiwan's decision on the rice shipment mostly hinges on the results of the task force. He also refused to comment on further details regarding the rice deal.

Another Minister of Foreign Affairs source said Taiwan hasn't committed to paper its agreement for the rice deal with Indonesia.