PM Lee, Bush discuss regional issues

SANTAGIO, Chile, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and U.S. President George Bush have exchanged views on regional developments, in particular the cross-strait situation.

At a meeting at the fringes of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit Sunday, the two leaders expressed concern about how the situation could develop, should there be a push for Taiwan's independence, Lee's press secretary Chen Hwai Liang said.

Two days earlier, Foreign Minister George Yeo exchanged views with Secretary of State Colin Powell on developments in East Asia.

On Friday night, Lee met Chinese president Hu Jintao and reaffirmed Singapore's long-standing 'One China' policy. The two leaders agreed that moves towards independence for Taiwan posed a serious threat to regional stability.

It was the first meeting for the two leaders since China voiced its great displeasure over a private trip Lee made to Taiwan in July, when he was still deputy prime minister, The Business Times reported Monday.