Taiwan VP's visit to Indonesia likely to ruffle China's feathers

Taiwan VP's visit to Indonesia likely to ruffle China's feathers

Agencies, Jakarta

Taiwan's Vice President Annette Lu flew in to Indonesia on
Wednesday for a visit likely to ruffle China's feathers, but
Jakarta said her trip was unofficial and a Taipei representative
said it had nothing to do with politics.

Lu arrived at the Indonesian resort island of Bali after
transiting at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. A Bali Ngurah Rai airport
official, I Gusti Made Dhordy, told The Jakarta Post that she had
arrived as a foreign tourist and was scheduled to stay in the
island until Aug.20.

Taiwanese and Indonesian officials declined to confirm or deny
Taiwanese media reports that Lu had been denied entry to Jakarta
due to Chinese pressure.

Indonesia, stressing its "One China Policy", which recognizes
Beijing as the sole representative of the Chinese government,
said Lu had wanted to visit only Bali in the first place and
would be there for two days to three days.

"The Government of Indonesia has not in any way arranged for
the visit of Ms. (Annette) Lu Hsiu-lien, certainly not in her
supposed capacity as vice president of an entity that names
itself as the Republic of China," said a statement from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Indonesia also consistently adheres to a 'One China Policy'
and has long recognized Chinese Taipei as an integral part of the
People's Republic of China," the statement said, adding that
Jakarta valued highly its relations in all aspects with Beijing,
which had continued to strengthen over the past decade.

China, however, protested to the Jakarta government for
allowing Lu to visit the country.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan reiterated
China's stance that it opposed countries that had diplomatic
relations with Beijing having "any form of official contact with
Taiwan."

"China has made solemn representations to the Indonesian
side," Quan said in a statement issued by the Xinhua news agency
and reported on state television.

Taiwan's media reported earlier that Lu had intended to stay
in Jakarta for two days and meet with ministerial-level officials
for discussions on environmental issues and economic cooperation.

Kong said, "The Chinese side requests the Indonesian
government strictly abide by the 'one China policy', be on guard
against a plot by Taiwan authorities, adopt decisive measures and
protect friendly relations between China and Indonesia."

Kong did not explain the "plot" he referred to, but Beijing
has accused Taipei of using unofficial visits to countries with
which China has diplomatic relations to try and develop ties with
them.

Taipei is recognized by only 27 nations, mostly small
countries in Africa and Central America. China has often
protested to countries with which it has diplomatic relations
over their receiving high-level Taiwanese officials.