Taiwan leader responds to US snub with global odyssey – Kathrin Hille

From the Financial Times (link)

Taiwan’s international isolation became all the more evident last week when the island’s president, on his way to Paraguay, scrapped a planned stop in Alaska.

Mr Chen Shui-bian opted instead for a stopover – later aborted – in Beirut, a detour via Abu Dhabi and refuelling in Amsterdam.

Analysts said Mr Chen’s odyssey also highlighted the risk that the president could become unpredictable during his last two years in office.