TAIWAN: VICE PRESIDENT & PREMIER LIEN CHAN RETURNS FROM UKRAINE VISIT

(23 Aug 1996) Mandarin/Nat After a three day game of hide-and-seek with the media, Taiwan’s Vice President and Premier Lien Chan is back in Taiwan after a visit to the Ukraine which was shrouded in secrecy. An infuriated Beijing accused Taiwan of furthering its independence and Kiev of reneging on diplomatic accords. But on his arrival back in Taiwan Lien defended the secret trip. Taiwan’s Vice President and Premier Lien Chan arrived back in Taiwan Thursday night after a covert trip to the Ukraine. Lien was scheduled back on Monday from attending the inauguration ceremonies for the president of the Dominican Republic. Instead he changed flights - appearing in the Ukraine on Tuesday to be awarded an honorary doctorate from Kiev’s Shevchenko University. The trip was a closely guarded secret not only from the press but most Taiwanese government officials. Lien defended the secrecy due to China’s diplomatic blockade. He stressed Taiwan must continue to carve out a greater internationa