HONG KONG -- Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, who narrowly won a disputed election in March, is without doubt the Bush administration's least favorite democratically elected leader.
After a week in Washington talking to various officials, the impression is unmistakable that Chen, who is to be inaugurated to a second term next week, is neither trusted nor liked by most American officials.
In fact, if Chen, who was given a warm welcome in New York last October, were to ask for another transit visa now, he would be turned down flat. He is simply not welcome in the United States, at least not until he proves that he has turned over a new leaf.