Taiwanese President Flies to Singapore to Pay Last Respects to Lee Kuan Yew: Reports

TAIPEI: Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou flew to Singapore today, a source familiar with the matter said, amid local media reports that Ma would pay his last respects to Singapore’s first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, who died aged 91 on Monday.

Ma would be unlikely to attend Sunday’s funeral for Lee to avoid an awkward encounter with China’s representatives, given the likelihood of a top Chinese leader attending.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and maintains a close relationship with Singapore.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it had no information about the matter. Officials at Taiwan’s presidential office could not be reached immediately for comment.