The PM spent an hour discussing the financial crisis with Premier Vincent Siew Wan-chang.

CNN: Money for Influence?

On their way back from Vancouver, both Dr Mahathir and Singapore's prime minister, Goh Chok Tong, found themselves compelled to make short stops in Taipei, where they met Taiwan's prime minister, Vincent Siew.

ECONOMIST: The Asian crash

By 1999 when the party needed to decide whom to nominate for president and vice president, Lee quashed Soong's supporters within the party -- a significant faction -- and selected little-known Vincent Siew, Taiwan's new premier, to be Lien's running mate.

CNN: ASIANOW - Asiaweek | From Our Correspondent | Lee Teng-hui

On one side there is Vincent Siew, the new prime minister, Mr Lien (currently vice-president), many senior cabinet members and most of the media, who think that Taiwan's business interests in China are now so large that there are compelling reasons to talk.

ECONOMIST: Taiwan