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Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian has dropped plans to make a brief stop in Alaska en route to Latin America, in an apparent snub to Washington for vetoing a high-profile visit. "President Chen will not stop over in Alaska on his way to Paraguay," said foreign ministry spokesman Michel Lu. He declined to comment on reports that Chen might visit Libya. Lu said it was uncertain whether the president would stop over in Alaska on his way back from Latin America. Shortly before his departure, Chen accused Beijing of thwarting his earlier plans to make a more high-profile visit to a...

Taiwan's independence-leaning president looked set to delay an overseas trip on Wednesday after Washington dragged its feet on stopovers in the United States. The apparent snub was a blow for Chen Shui-bian, whose transit plan China had warned Washington not to approve. It raised questions about the self-ruled island's ties with its most important ally and chief arms supplier. Chen had hoped to stop in New York on his way to Paraguay and Costa Rica to score diplomatic points after Chinese President Hu Jintao's U.S. trip last month, media reports said. But Taiwan officials said they could not finalize the...

US decides on transit plan: source BUSH APPROVAL: Chen Shui-bian will not be allowed to land in the continental US nor stay overnight, officials said, adding that the US president had made the decision By Charles Snyder and Nadia Tsao STAFF REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON Wednesday, May 03, 2006,Page 3 A US source said yesterday that US President George W. Bush will allow President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to transit through the US on his way to and from Latin America. Bush authorized Chen to stop in Honolulu, Hawaii, on his way to Latin America, and in Anchorage, Alaska, on his...