Thailand grants Examination Yuan head tourist visa

Thailand has issued a tourist visa to Examination Yuan President Yao Chia-wen (姚嘉文) and his lawmaker wife, Chou Ching-yu (周清玉), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday, days after the kingdom denied visas to a legislative group led by the Legislative Yuan's vice speaker.

In a statement released yesterday, the ministry hailed the Thai government's decision but expressed its regret over the failure of legislative vice speaker Chiang Pin-kun (江丙坤) to secure a visa to visit Thailand and over the Thai prime minister's comments about relations between the two.

"According to international news agencies, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told the media that Thailand sticks to its `one China' policy and only maintains economic ties with Taiwan. [He said] a visit by Taiwan's president, premier, foreign minister and defense minister would jeopardize Thailand's ties with China. Thaksin's remarks have hurt the people's feelings and we feel regret," the statement said.