Chen's daughter-in-law, son tiptoe back to Taipei

President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) son and daughter-in-law arrived in Taipei yesterday following calls for them to return home so that their first child could be born in Taiwan, rather than in the US.

Although the Presidential Office has not commented on the arrival of the couple, a Central News Agency (CNA) reporter saw Chen's son, Chen Chih-chung (陳致中), and his daughter-in-law, Huang Jui-ching (黃睿靚), at CKS International Airport early yesterday morning.

According to a CNA report, the couple were traveling light and maintained a very low profile.

Huang is said to be four to five-months pregnant.

The CNA report said that the couple was staying at the president's official Yushan Residence (玉山官邸) on Chongqing S Road.

The Chinese-language United Evening News ran a similar story yesterday, with a headline that read: "Prince is back, imperial son-in-law is moving."

The United Evening News report said that Chen Chih-chung and Huang arrived in Taiwan at 5:50am and went immediately to the Yushan Residence.

The couple's return could be interpreted as Chen Shui-bian bowing to pressure from both ruling and opposition party legislators who have said that the president should not allow himself to become the grandfather of an American because he once said when campaigning for office that the Taiwanese did not want a father of an American to be their president.

Chen Shui-bian was referring to his election rival at the time, People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), whose son Soong Chen-yuan (宋鎮遠) is a US citizen.

Chen Chih-chung and his pianist wife went to the US to advance their studies after they tied the knot in June last year.

Chen Chih-chung graduated from New York University with a second master's degree in law in May, while Huang graduated from the Manhattan School of Music.

In other developments, speculation is mounting that the president's son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming (趙建銘), will move back to his hometown in Tainan, while the president's daughter, Chen Hsing-yu (陳幸妤), is said to be planning to return to the president's private apartment on Minsheng E Road.

Chao was indicted last month in connection with an insider-trading scandal and is out on bail.

Chen Hsing-yu moved into the Yushan Residence before she gave birth to her third son on July 2.

The Presidential Office said yesterday that Chen Hsing-yu would continue to stay at the Yushan Residence "for the time being."