Chen sorry for snotty remark

2004-10-06 13:23

Taipei - Taiwan's foreign minister Mark Chen on Wednesday apologised to Singaporeans over angry remarks he made recently in describing the South-east Asian city-state.

"Yes, it [apology] also applies to Singaporeans if they have found the words uncomfortable," said Chen in answering an opposition parliamentarian's query during a parliament session.

Chen was referring to a row he started last week when he called Singapore a "tiny country no bigger than a piece of dried snot," and used an expletive related to the male reproductive organ to accuse the city-state of currying favours with China.

His remarks were later seen as unseemly even by the presidential office, though he explained that he made the comments in an outburst over what he saw as Singapore befriending China at the expense of Taiwan.

Damaging Taiwan's image

During a United Nations General Assembly session late last month, Chen's Singaporean counterpart, George Yeo, accused the island of trying to spark a war with China by pushing for independence, saying this could drag in other countries in the region.

His remarks backfired in Taiwan, with opposition parliamentarians and academics lashing out at Chen for damaging the image of Taiwan with his rude language and the island's longstanding friendship with Singapore.

Chen later made a trip to Palau and stayed there for three days before returning to Taiwan to face the fire. Singapore, meanwhile, has remained cool by choosing not to hit back at Taiwan.

Singapore recognises China diplomatically, but maintains close economic and military cooperation with Taiwan. Taiwan and China split at the end of a civil war in 1949 and have remained bitter rivals since then. - dpa

- SAPA