TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Overseas Community Affairs Council is pessimistic about the chances its officials will be allowed to attend the Asia Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce meet in Singapore next month, reports said Wednesday.

Council Minister Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青) told lawmakers the government was working through official channels to contact Singapore, but the effort was unlikely to succeed, per CNA. Singapore feared the council would influence its local population, she said.

Even though Taiwanese travelers enjoy a visa waiver for Singapore, official visitors still needed government approval, Hsu said. She added the information she had received gave her no reason for optimism about the Dec. 8 business meeting. Hsu added Singapore’s reluctance did not only apply to her, but to all council officials.

Lawmakers also pointed out that Singapore had signed an extradition agreement with China. Government officials need to be careful when transiting through Singapore, legislators said. 

Beijing recently called for international legal action against DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), leading Hsu to state he might face risks if passing through the Southeast Asian nation.

Other lawmakers said there was no need to issue a warning against traveling to Singapore. They explained there was a difference between a Hong Kong democracy activist being turned away at the airport and extradition to China.

There was no need to fall into China’s trap and take measures that would harm business, tourism, and political relations with Singapore, said DPP Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇). Following his comments, Hsu retracted her suggestion to warn people against traveling to Singapore, the report said.