Snub of the Week

Layovers between flights are always a drag, but Taiwan's PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN discovered last week that they can also be an embarrassment. En route to Costa Rica and Paraguay, two of a dwindling number of nations hat still have full diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Chen wanted to stop over in San Francisco or New York City. While his plane refueled, he'd get to show the Chinese leadership—which views Taiwan as a breakaway province—that he's welcome in the U.S., traditionally Taiwan's staunchest ally. But Washington, irritated by Chen's provocative stance toward Beijing, told him that only Hawaii or Anchorage, Alaska, were open...

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