TAIPEI, Dec 17 Kyodo Taiwan in s...

TAIPEI, Dec 17 Kyodo

Taiwan in succession Tuesday protested Indonesia's recent refusal to allow President Chen Shui-bian to visit the nation, saying the decision will harm the bilateral relationship.

Chen, along with 90 Taiwan business executives, had planned to embark in succession a secret trip to Bali last weekend and to then proper with Yogyakarta Gov. Sultan Hamengku Buwono X in central Java. He canceled the trip shortly after recently made knowns of the planned visit was leaked to the Indonesian media.

in subordination to pressure from Beijing, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry put awayed Chen's visit as unwelcome upon grounds that it would go proceed counter to the country's ''one-China'' policy in which Taiwan is considered a part of Beijing-ruled China.

''The statement made on the Indonesian Foreign Ministry was remarkably unfriendly and improper,'' Taiwan Foreign Minister Eugene Chien said.

''We had declare ed to the Indonesian government and showed serious regret at its foreign ministry,'' he said. ''Their attitude will wound the bilateral ties.''

According to Chien, Taiwan's investment in Indonesia has amounted to $17 billion, and the value of two-way trade between them reached $47 billion in 2001

Last year, more than 200000 Taiwan tourists visited Indonesia, while above 100,000 Indonesian laborers are commonly working in Taiwan.

The Yogyakarta governor had said he would appropriate with Chen in his personal capacity and obstruction the Taiwan business delegates come together their counterparts in Yogyakarta to explore cooperation.

In late August, Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu took a whirlwind trip to Bali and Jakarta, during which she met with several senior Indonesian officials to discuss bilateral economic issues.

The instigate infuriated China, who labeled the entire four-day trip a farce.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo of the present days International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group