Originally posted by The Barracuda:
[b]Taiwan minister apologises to S'pore
for rude words
By Lawrence Chung
TAIPEI - Taiwanese Foreign Minister Mark Chen yesterday apologised
for using rude language to lash out at Singapore a day
earlier.
Through his spokesman Michel Lu, Mr Chen said he had borne no ill
intention.
'The Foreign Minister deeply apologises for using words which have
made other people feel uncomfortable,' the spokesman said.
He said the ministry had stepped up communications with Singapore's
representatives in Taipei, adding that relations between the two
sides have not been affected.
'The Foreign Minister was meeting a group of Hokkien-speaking
Taiwanese and naturally used their language to describe what he
felt when he saw Taiwan was being treated unfairly in the UN
assembly in New York,' Mr Lu told The Straits Times.
He pointed out that the group was also made up of pro-independence
supporters.
'We are disappointed at, and surprised by, Singapore's remarks at
the United Nations.
'It is not fair to Taiwan,' Mr Lu said, adding that Singapore had
ignored the fact that China had 610 missiles pointed at the
island.
On Monday, Mr Chen described Singapore as 'a tiny country the size
of a piece of dried nasal mucus' when reacting to Singapore Foreign
Minister George Yeo's remarks on Taiwan in a speech to the UN
General Assembly last Friday.
Brigadier-General (NS) Yeo said the international community should
not let tension between Taiwan and the mainland get out of control
and any push by Taiwan for independence will lead to war with China
and drag in other countries.
In response, the Taiwanese Foreign Minister accused Singapore of
currying favour with China and even used a Hokkien expletive to
make his point.
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement
yesterday that it was not 'the first time Singapore has stated our
concerns about Taiwan'.
'Many other countries also believe that Taiwan is pursuing a
dangerous course towards independence. Resorting to intemperate
language cannot assuage these concerns,' the ministry added.
Mr Chen's remarks made headlines in most of Taiwan's
newspapers.
He also drew sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers and his own
government for his coarse language.
'Being a foreign minister, he must be very careful in his words and
diction. Otherwise, a slip of tongue could lead to deterioration of
relations,' said Mr Chen's predecessor John Chang, now a legislator
of the opposition Kuomintang.
Mr Chen Chien-min, legislator of the pro-independence Taiwan
Solidarity Union, said: 'It is highly inappropriate for Mr Chen to
make that comment, and if necessary, the Foreign Minister should
apologise to Singapore for what he said.'
Even Cabinet spokesman Chen Chi-mai said he could understand Mr
Chen's frustration at Taiwan's 12th failed bid to join the UN, but
the Foreign Minister 'should be more cautious with his
words'.
Mr Su Tseng-chang, secretary-general to the President, said
officials should control their emotions and watch what they say
even when they are upset.
[/b]
good that they apologize, cause Hong Kong size is also about the
same as SG
