BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific

Taiwan leader back in US

President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan has had lunch with a leading American congressman in Houston, Texas, on his second visit to the United States in two weeks.

The Taiwanese leader wore a new Texas cowboy hat and boots as he left the restaurant with Republican Congressman Tom DeLay, but made no comment to reporters as the two men left for a baseball game.

China lodged an official complaint when the Bush administration agreed to President Chen making the stopovers in the United States.

Both were during journeys to and from an official tour of five Latin American countries, which give diplomatic recognition to Taiwan.

President Chen was greeted in Houston by groups of demonstrators both for and against his visit.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service