'Secret' Taipei visit to Singapore

The vice-President of Taiwan, Lien Chan, is paying a private visit to Singapore - which is shrouded in secrecy and which has already provoked a protest from the Chinese authorities.

Singapore has played down the importance of Mr Lien's visit, although he was expected to hold informal meetings with the Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong, and other government officials.

The BBC south-east Asia correspondent says that while Singapore maintains close and cordial relations with China, this has not prevented it from establishing some important links with Taipei.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service