The Xinhua news agency cited foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue as voicing "strong dissatisfaction" and "protest" over Lee's trip to the island, which began Saturday.

"The Singaporean side should take full responsibility for results from the event," Zhang said according to Xinhua.

By going to Taiwan, Lee hurt China's interests and the feelings of 1.3 billion Chinese people, she was quoted by the agency as saying.

China demands of all its diplomatic allies that they cut formal ties with Taiwan, which it considers part of its territory.

Taiwan's Chinese-language United Daily News said Lee, the son of Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew, would dine with Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, much reviled by Beijing, on Monday.

It said the Taiwanese government has attached great importance to the three-day trip which comes after Singapore's ruling People's Action Party rubber-stamped Lee's appointment as the next prime minister on May 31.

After he assumes the premiership, it would be difficult for him to visit Taiwan, the Daily News said.

Beijing opposes any official foreign visit to Taiwan, which it regards as part of its territory waiting to be reunified by force if necessary. The two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949.

                                                      Home