PM Goh makes surprise Taiwan stopover
Reuters. Nov 28, 1997.
TAIPEI: Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong made a surprise
transit stop in Taiwan on Friday morning and met with Premier Vincent Siew,
the official Central News Agency reported.
``Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong arrived at Chiang Kai-shek airport this morning. Premier Vincent Siew as host came to greet him and they held a brief conversation,'' the agency reported. Taiwan has no diplomatic ties with Singapore.
Goh's visit followed Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's surprise transit stop in Taiwan on Thursday. Mahathir also met Premier Siew despite a lack of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Taiwan.
The nature of their talks was not disclosed, although Taipei officials have said that several unspecified southeast Asian nations caught up in Asia's recent currency turmoil had turned to wealthy Taiwan for advice and assistance.
Despite extensive bilateral trade and investment ties, Singapore has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan's exiled Republic of China government, recognising only the communist People's Republic of China in Beijing. Goh's stopover lasted 80 minutes, CNA said.
Visits by prominent heads of state are extremely rare in Taiwan, which has been seen by arch rival China since a 1949 civil war split as a renegade province ineligible for diplomatic recognition.