Singapore defended yesterday the deputy prime minister's surprise trip to Taiwan, saying the visit - which incensed China - was essential to enable the city-state's next leader to understand "a potential flash point" in Asia. A four-page statement from the office of Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore officials had told Beijing about the visit beforehand as "a courtesy," and had then resisted pressure from China to call it off. "Singapore is a good friend of China. But to call off the trip at China's request would have undermined our right to make independent decisions, and damaged our international standing," Lee said.
| Two nations full of wealthy Chinese get together and talk, that's just got to twist knickers in Beijing. |
Lee - the elder son of Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew -will assume Singapore's top job later this year, replacing Goh Chok Tong. The date of the transfer could be announced next week. Singapore officials described Lee's four-day trip to Taiwan as "private and unofficial." It involved meetings with "friends," including President Chen Shui-bian and opposition leader Lien Chan, they said. "We gave (the Chinese) representations serious consideration, but we could not agree," Lee said. "We expressed the hope that this private and unofficial visit does not change our very clear position on Taiwan." |