wannabe-aviator
4th May 2006, 22:39
By Rym Ghazal
Daily Star staff
Friday, May 05, 2006
BEIRUT: Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian's plane was banned from landing for refueling in Beirut on Thursday by the Lebanese authorities after a strong protest from the Chinese ambassador in Beirut.
China's envoy to Lebanon, Liu Xianghua, called "an urgent" meeting with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, President Emile Lahoud and other high officials Thursday morning and requested that Chen's plane not be allowed to land, according to an official government source.
"Lebanon had to respond positively to the Chinese demand because of the diplomatic relations and agreements signed between the two countries," the official told The Daily Star.
One factor behind Lebanon's decision may have been a desire to maintain good relations with a country that wields a veto on the UN Security Council, especially as the council takes up resolutions relating to Lebanon and Syria.
Meanwhile, Lebanon does not have any diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
"It was a Lebanese decision," an official at the Chinese embassy in Beirut told The Daily Star. "The request by the ambassador to the Lebanese officials was made based on good and friendly relations between the two countries."
The conflict between China and Chen centers on the Taiwanese leader's call for his country's independence from the Chinese mainland.
Chen's position "is completely unacceptable by China's government," the Chinese official said. Beijing has opposed any overseas visits by top government officials from Taiwan, which it regards as part of its territory awaiting reunification.
China views any country that plays host to Chen as encouraging his vision of a separate Taiwanese identity.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb
According to media reports, officials at the Rafik Hariri International Airport said "concerned security authorities" told air traffic controllers to "inform the plane's captain ... that the plane is not allowed to land in Beirut for refueling."
Chen's Boeing 747 plane eventually landed in Abu Dhabi airport, after being in the air for 10 hours, according to a reporter from the Taipei-based cable CTI news network.
"We had had no idea where we were heading for until the plane touched down," the reporter said.
"The U.A.E. and Taiwan do not have diplomatic ties, but Taiwan has a commercial bureau in the U.A.E., just like in all other countries, and Beijing has no objections to that," an Emirati official told the AFP.
The Taiwanese President landed in U.A.E. only for refueling and will be "continuing his trip on to Paraguay," according to Taiwanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Michel Lu. Paraguay is one of the 25 countries that recognize Taipei rather than Beijing.
"It's no surprise that China is using every possible measure to squeeze Taiwan's international space," Lu said.
Chen is also visiting Costa Rica, another diplomatic ally. But he unexpectedly dropped plans to stop in the United States en route to Latin America, angered by a U.S. decision not to allow a higher-profile visit.
U.S. authorities said Chen could only make refueling stops in Hawaii or in Anchorage, Alaska.
Chen made no mention of the apparent rift with the U.S. before leaving for visits to Paraguay and Costa Rica, instead blaming China for "trampling on the dignity" of Taiwan's people. - With agencies
Daily Star staff
Friday, May 05, 2006
BEIRUT: Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian's plane was banned from landing for refueling in Beirut on Thursday by the Lebanese authorities after a strong protest from the Chinese ambassador in Beirut.
China's envoy to Lebanon, Liu Xianghua, called "an urgent" meeting with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, President Emile Lahoud and other high officials Thursday morning and requested that Chen's plane not be allowed to land, according to an official government source.
"Lebanon had to respond positively to the Chinese demand because of the diplomatic relations and agreements signed between the two countries," the official told The Daily Star.
One factor behind Lebanon's decision may have been a desire to maintain good relations with a country that wields a veto on the UN Security Council, especially as the council takes up resolutions relating to Lebanon and Syria.
Meanwhile, Lebanon does not have any diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
"It was a Lebanese decision," an official at the Chinese embassy in Beirut told The Daily Star. "The request by the ambassador to the Lebanese officials was made based on good and friendly relations between the two countries."
The conflict between China and Chen centers on the Taiwanese leader's call for his country's independence from the Chinese mainland.
Chen's position "is completely unacceptable by China's government," the Chinese official said. Beijing has opposed any overseas visits by top government officials from Taiwan, which it regards as part of its territory awaiting reunification.
China views any country that plays host to Chen as encouraging his vision of a separate Taiwanese identity.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb
According to media reports, officials at the Rafik Hariri International Airport said "concerned security authorities" told air traffic controllers to "inform the plane's captain ... that the plane is not allowed to land in Beirut for refueling."
Chen's Boeing 747 plane eventually landed in Abu Dhabi airport, after being in the air for 10 hours, according to a reporter from the Taipei-based cable CTI news network.
"We had had no idea where we were heading for until the plane touched down," the reporter said.
"The U.A.E. and Taiwan do not have diplomatic ties, but Taiwan has a commercial bureau in the U.A.E., just like in all other countries, and Beijing has no objections to that," an Emirati official told the AFP.
The Taiwanese President landed in U.A.E. only for refueling and will be "continuing his trip on to Paraguay," according to Taiwanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Michel Lu. Paraguay is one of the 25 countries that recognize Taipei rather than Beijing.
"It's no surprise that China is using every possible measure to squeeze Taiwan's international space," Lu said.
Chen is also visiting Costa Rica, another diplomatic ally. But he unexpectedly dropped plans to stop in the United States en route to Latin America, angered by a U.S. decision not to allow a higher-profile visit.
U.S. authorities said Chen could only make refueling stops in Hawaii or in Anchorage, Alaska.
Chen made no mention of the apparent rift with the U.S. before leaving for visits to Paraguay and Costa Rica, instead blaming China for "trampling on the dignity" of Taiwan's people. - With agencies