Taiwan's defence minister made a secret visit last week to Singapore, signaling the resumption of unofficial ties, which were derailed by Taipei's criticism of Singapore in 2004, a newspaper reported Monday. The United Daily News quoted an unnamed official as saying that Defence minister Kao Hua-chu went last week to Singapore to attend the Singapore Airshow.
He met with Singapore's Defence minister Teo Chee Hean to discuss military exchanges, the official said.
It was the first Singapore visit by a Taiwan defence minister since 1989, when then-defence minister Cheng Wei-yuan accompanied ex- president Lee Teng-hui on a private visit to Singapore.
Singapore used to have close ties with Taiwan, though the city- state recognises China which regards Taiwan as Beijing's breakaway province.
Since 1975, under the Starlight Programme, Taiwan has been providing venues for Singaporean troops to conduct combat training in southern Taiwan.
However, bilateral ties chilled after Taiwan's ex-foreign minister Mark Chen in 2004 derided Singapore as "no bigger than a snot" and "holding China's balls," in response to Singaporean prime minister Lee Hsien Loong's warning Taipei of the danger of seeking independence.
Chen's snub caused Singapore to suspend high-level visits with Taiwan.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/307992,report-taiwan-defence-minister-made-secret-visit-to-singapore.html
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