Taiwan Quick Take: Chen trip still in the works

Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) said yesterday that the schedule for President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) visit to South Pacific allies is still being planned and he hoped the public did not view the country's foreign affairs from the perspective of domestic affairs. Some newspapers said that Chen will choose to leave on Sept. 3 to avoid a large-scale protest campaign against him that is due to be launched on Sept. 2. Huang did not say when Chen would depart, simply saying that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would coordinate with the Presidential Office and announce the president's schedule soon. He refused to respond to questions about whether Chen will transit in Guam.