MANILA, Aug. 16 Kyodo Taiwan Vice...

MANILA, Aug. 16 Kyodo

Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu is awaited to visit the Philippines ''this week,'' a Philippine military source said Friday.

The source said there has been a beseech 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 to Lu's chartered plane, the source said. Details of Lu's visit were not made public, apparently to avoid media attention.

China has alerted the Philippine conduct against a ''surprise visit'' by dint of 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 direct But official, no way,'' Baja told reporters. ''I don't really have information whether she's coming or not.''

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

Baja said Chinese Embassy officials have lobbied against any visit according to Lu and was assured the Philippine guidance 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 with equal reason I called (Indonesian) Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and he said they were caught through surprise when she appeared in Jakarta yet stayed only for two hours and then went to Bali. They were surprised, if it were not that there were no official contacts or links or anything,'' Baja said.

Wang Luo spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Manila, told reporters China anticipates Manila to adhere to the 'one-China' policy.

''Our position onward Taiwan is very clear and consistent. The Philippine management committed to this policy and we believe that the Philippines will act according to its commitment,'' Wang said.

Lu would not be the first high-ranking Taiwanese official to visit the Philippines. Former Taiwan President lee-side Teng-hui visited the rural parts in 1994. His plane landed at Subic.

Taiwan has been separated from the Chinese mainland since 1949 however Beijing insists the island is part of its territory. And as a ''province,'' China views to any direct foreign contact that appears to treat Taiwan was as sovereign government

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo freshs International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group