Asia-Pacific News

Taiwan's vice president demands apology from CNN

Mar 6, 2007, 16:47 GMT

Taipei - Taiwan's Vice President Annette Lu, angry at being called 'insane' and 'scum of the nation' in a CNN broadcast quoting an attack by China, demanded an apology Tuesday and indicated she may seek damages.

'The vice president is shocked that CNN reported her running for president using the headline Taiwan's 'scum of the nation' runs for president. She finds it a big insult to herself, who was elected by the Taiwan people, and to Taiwan people's dignity,' Lu's office said.

'To make CNN live up to the public expectation of CNN's news coverage standards (and) to safeguard Taiwan's dignity, the vice president expects CNN to make a formal apology to herself and the Taiwan people and to make necessary amendment, and does not rule out seeking damages.'

Lu's office issued the statement late Tuesday. By then, CNN had changed its headline to 'Lu seeks to be first Taiwan woman president.'

Lu, 63, a former dissident and lawmaker, angered China by openly declaring that Taiwan and China are two countries and condemned China's missile threats against Taiwan as terrorism, prompting China to brand her 'scum of the nation.'

Foreign news agencies have already reported this, but she has not protested before.