Chen plans to watch Astros from the stands

"President Chen is a grassroots politician and he prefers to be close to the public. Besides, the president thinks that it would be more appropriate to sit in the stands ...."

Presidential aide

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) finished his 16-day Latin American diplomatic tour and arrived in Houston, Texas yesterday for a two- day stopover. Officials say he plans to see a baseball game at Enron Field today and was to be greeted by US House Majority Whip Tom Delay.

And while it was originally expected that President Chen would sit in a VIP box to watch the game, close aides to the president say that he plans to sit in the stands to watch the Houston Astros play the LA Dodgers.

"President Chen expects to sit in the stands, where he can enjoy the atmosphere with local residents and also wave to overseas Taiwanese," a close aide to the President told the Taipei Times in Honduras yesterday.

The aide said, however, that the US government has still not given its approval to Chen, saying the US would rather Chen stay in a VIP box for security reasons.

"President Chen is a grassroots politician and he prefers to be close to the public. Besides, the president thinks that it would be more appropriate to sit in the stands than to be locked in a VIP room in order to really understand American baseball culture," the aide said.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Affairs Office in Houston has already purchased tickets for the game, including 10 seats behind home plate and 50 outfield seats.

China is expected to mobilize protests against Chen outside the DoubleTree Hotel, where Chen and the delegation will stay.

Chen was to be accompanied by Delay to meet with at least four congressmen last night in Houston and will eat at the famous Taste of Texas restaurant and watch the Astros game today.

Chen arrived in Honduras on Friday afternoon where he kept a tight schedule. In just 22 hours, Chen met with a number of top-ranking officials, received overseas Taiwanese leaders, and was interviewed by the local media.

During an interview with a local newspaper, La Tribuna, Chen again reiterated Taiwan's opposition to China's proposed "One country, two systems." Chen said that since 85 percent of Taiwan's population is opposed to such an offer, "it's impossible to make concessions or negotiate over the matter."

Chen also said that his trip had confirmed what he called a growing sense of international justice.

"I believe that the sense of justice from the international community is that it will never let Taiwan walk alone," Chen said.