Speculation about Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's (李光耀) possible role as an emissary between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait grew yesterday as he met with two of Taiwan's top cross-strait affairs officials.
On his second day in Taiwan, Lee met with Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) in the morning and Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Koo Chen-fu (辜振甫) in the afternoon at his hotel at the Ta Shee Resort in Taoyuan.
PHOTO: CHU YU-PIN, TAIPEI TIMES
After her closed-door visit with Lee, Tsai said her visit was aimed at helping Lee stay abreast of cross-strait developments.
"After all, it's no surprise that Lee is very much concerned about the cross-strait situation," Tsai said.
She said that the two exchanged views on cross-strait relations and other issues, but she did not elaborate.
Koo was also tight-lipped, saying that Lee was simply an old friend whom he hadn't seen in a few years.
"We had lots of things to catch up on, during which, unavoidably, topics related to cross-strait issues were also touched upon," Koo said. "But mostly we just talked about issues concerning Taiwan's economic situation."
Lee last visited Taiwan in September 2000, shortly after President Chen Shui-bian (
This visit comes immediately after Lee's visit to Beijing.
Director Douglas Paal of the Taipei office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) was the first visitor Lee formally received, just hours after arriving in Taipei Tuesday with his wife for a four-day visit.
Saying that Paal and Lee are old friends, AIT Spokeswoman Judith Mudd-Krijgelmans told the Taipei Times that Paal's visit with Lee was private in nature.
Meanwhile, Chen will host a state banquet tonight at the presidential residence in Lee's honor.
Premier Yu Shyi-kun and Presidential Secretary-General Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) are also expected to attend the banquet, a senior official from the Presidential Office told the Taipei Times on the condition of anonymity.
The official added that, so far, no plans have been made for Chen to meet with Lee outside the banquet.
Though Lee's visit was intended to be low profile, it has received significant media attention as it comes at a time of heightened tension in the wake of Chen's "one country on each side" remarks last month.
It remains to be seen what kind of message Lee will have for Taiwan's officials during his visit. Over the years Lee has been regarded by both Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties as the best candidate for the role of mediator between Taipei and Beijing.
Lee was prime minister of Singapore from 1965 until he stepped down in 1990.
Since then he has held the title of senior minister.
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