Jakarta expresses disappointment with Lu remarks

0 Comments | Asian Political News, August 19, 2002

JAKARTA, Aug. 16 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATES WITH FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT)

The Indonesian government expressed disappointment Friday with public remarks made by Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu during her trip to Indonesia, saying her statements will make ''the matter'' related to her visit worse.

''It seems to be that they -- I mean Madame Lu -- seem to exaggerate this problem. I mean that (she) seems to blow up this problem and to make statements, which are far from the reality,'' Indonesian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Marty Natalegawa told reporters.

He denied the Indonesian government had given Lu a special security arrangement as she was seen guarded by a group of Indonesian presidential security guards.

''If there is such arrangement, it must not be given by Indonesian government. And that is not supposed to be used as an indicator of how official of her visit is,'' he said.

Lu arrived in Jakarta on Friday after a two-day stay on the resort island Bali ''to learn about tourism.'' The Indonesian government has repeatedly it abides by the Beijing-demanded ''one- China'' policy that holds the government in Beijing to be the only government of China, including Taiwan.

''She is in transit to a third country. The vice president's arrival (in Jakarta) was not arranged by the government,'' Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told a press conference.

''We will never have any official contacts with Taiwanese officials. So this is in accordance with our 'one-China' policy,'' he added.

One of Lu's aides said in Bali she was expected to meet senior officials, including Environment Minister Nabiel Makarim, ''who was her classmate and best friend in the U.S.''

''She doesn't know whether she can meet them, but she said, 'I will just follow the wind,''' the aide added.

In Jakarta on Friday, Lu was welcomed at the airport by former Indonesian Attorney General Marzuki Darusman and former Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Agung Leksono, both of whom still hold positions on the powerful Golkar party's Executive Board.

It is not known if Lu will stay in Jakarta or for how long.

She transited Jakarta on her way to Bali on Wednesday.

According to Taiwan media, she had initially planned to spend two days in Jakarta before going to Bali, but gave up that idea after China, which regards Taiwan as a province not entitled to diplomatic recognition, put pressure on both Taiwan and Indonesia to prevent any high-level meetings.

Indonesia, which supports Beijing's ''one-China'' policy, has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan and soon after Lu's initial arrival the Foreign Ministry took pains to issue a statement saying it did not arrange the visit and adheres to a ''one-China'' policy.

A visit by then Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui to Bali in February 1994 was characterized by the Indonesian government as private, although he ''accidentally'' met President Suharto.

Taiwan often uses ''holiday diplomacy'' in an effort to counter China's efforts to isolate it.

In response to Lu's current trip, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan issued a statement Wednesday saying, ''We request that Indonesia abide by the 'one-China' policy, be on guard against conspiracies by the Taiwan authorities, take resolute measures and protect friendly China-Indonesia ties.''

Indonesia has strong economic ties with both China and Taiwan.

Possibly related to the foreign ministry's statement Lu is one her way to a third country, a military source in Manila suggested the Taiwan vice president could soon arrive in the Philippines.

The source said there has been a request for Lu's private plane to land either at the airport in Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in Olongapo City or at Clark Air Base in Pampanga Province, north of Manila.

Clearance to land has reportedly been granted for Lu's chartered plane, the source said. Details of Lu's visit were not made public, apparently to avoid media attention.

China has apparently alerted the Philippine government against a ''surprise visit'' by Lu.

Foreign Undersecretary Lauro Baja said Manila ''is not ready'' to receive the Taiwanese official in any capacity.

''Our position is we are not prepared to receive her in any capacity. Private visit, we have no control. But official, no way,'' Baja told reporters. ''I don't really have information whether she's coming or not.''

He stressed the Philippines adheres to the ''one-China'' policy.

Baja said Chinese Embassy officials have lobbied against any visit by Lu and was assured the Philippine government does not intend to officially welcome her.

He said that as early as Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to Manila Wang Chungui notified the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs of Lu's possible visit.

Baja said, ''I told (Wang) we don't have any information and we don't intend to officially welcome her, if ever.''

''Then I heard she's going to Indonesia so I called Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and he said they were caught by surprise when she appeared in Jakarta but stayed only for two hours and then went to Bali. They were surprised, but there were no official contacts or links or anything,'' Baja said.