But on Wednesday, Lee's press secretary said she knew nothing about any meeting scheduled with Lien. An Associated Press report from Taipei , said the trip to Singapore by Taiwan's vice president has irritated China, which objects to Taiwanese leaders visiting countries that have diplomatic relations with Beijing. Foreign Ministry officials said Vice President Lien Chan and his wife will spend four days in the city-state, vacationing and visiting people, but did not mention specifics. Newspapers quoted unidentified Taiwanese officials as saying Singapore wants Lien to keep his trip low-profile with no media exposure. Taiwan is the seat of the Nationalist Chinese government that lost the mainland to the Communists in 1949.
China considers it a renegade province.
Since only 29 countries formally recognize Taiwan, its leaders are forced to travel to most places unofficially and sometimes even covertly. The United Evening News said Lien will golf with Singaporean officials, including Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. The Taiwanese newspaper said Lien also will meet with Lee Kuan Yew, the former prime minister who retains considerable influence. Before leaving Thursday, Lien urged rapprochement with China in a New Year message broadcast live to the mainland.