Visa Bid By Taiwan Premier Is Thwarted

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Visa Bid By Taiwan Premier Is Thwarted

Seoul will not issue a visa for Taiwanese Premier Chang Chun-hsuing, who had been invited by a group of seven South Korean legislators on a non-official visit.

"We have notified the legislators and the National Assembly that the government respects the "one China" policy and therefore will not issue the requested visa," an official with the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry said.

"Seoul and Taipei have an agreement for a 30-day stay for tourists without requiring a visa. But for purposes other than tourism, a visa is needed," the official explained.

Mr. Chang was invited by the group of legislators led by Representative Kim Young-jin of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party to attend a launching ceremony for a Christian legislators association between South Korea and Taiwan, slated to be held May 9 in Seoul.

Observers noted that the government's decision forestalls a diplomatic falling-out with Beijing. China vigorously protested Japan's issuance of a visa to former President Lee Deng-hui and the U.S. permission for President Chen Shui-bian's visit.

Seoul exchanged a memorandum of understanding with Beijing that it would not conduct an official exchange with Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province, when it established relations in 1992.



by Lee Chul-hee

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