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China: Lee's trip undermine basis for bilateral ties
China said that the trip to Taiwan by Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had damaged ties and infringed on Beijing's interests.
The comments were the latest development in a row between the normally friendly nations over Lee's three-day trip last week, during which he met Taiwanese leader Chen Shui-bian and opposition leaders.
Kong was responding to Lee's recent defence of his trip to Taiwan, Xinhua said.
Lee, the son of Singapore's founding father Lee Kwan Yew, said in a written response to the media last Friday that he had declined China's request not to go, as it would have undermined the city state's independence.
He argued that he had wanted to update himself on the situation in Taiwan before succeeding Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong next month, he added.
But he reiterated Singapore's adherence to the "One China" policy and opposition to independence for Taiwan.
Singapore, whose population is almost 80 percent ethnic Chinese, has tried to maintain a delicate balance in its relations with Beijing and Taipei.
Beijing had expressed its "strong dissatisfaction" immediately after Lee arrived in Taiwan.
The governor of the People's Bank of China abruptly cancelled a visit to Singapore last week, while Chinese officials in Singapore also snubbed a dinner function hosted by Lee, who also heads Singapore's central bank. |
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