9 Apr 2005

Taiwan presidential visit to Marshall Islands won't include tent accomodation

8:11 am on 9 April 2005

Marshall Islands and Taiwanese officials in Majuro have dismissed a suggestion that the Taiwanese President, Chen Shui-bian, may have to sleep in a tent when he visits because of inadequate hotel facilities.

The Taiwanese English Today News reported that on Mr Chen's upcoming visit to the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu the President "will again experience a more primitive life by going camping."

It quotes the Taipei Foreign Ministry spokesman Michael Lu as saying that it'll be fun for Mr Chen and his entourage to live in a tent during his visit.

But the Taiwanese Ambassador to the Marshall Islands, Lien-Gene Chen has been angered at the report, saying he has sent a letter of complaint to the Foreign Ministry about the matter.

Ambassador Chen says there's no shortage of nice hotels in the Marshall Islands.

A spokesman for the Marshall Islands President's Office, Bob Jericho, laughed at the media report from Taiwan.

He says President Chen will be staying at the 150-room Marshall Islands Resort during his two nights in Majuro from April 30th to May 2nd.