Honolulu, Nov. 13 (CNA) Taiwan's envoy to the 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit was in the international media spotlight Saturday when he attended a dinner hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama in honor of the leaders of the APEC member economies.

In its Sunday edition, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser carried a big photo of Lien Chan, a former vice president who was representing President Ma Ying-jeou at the summit, and his wife shaking hands and chatting with Obama. The paper, which is the largest in Honolulu, identified Lien as "former vice president of Taiwan" in its photo caption.

USA Today, one of the leading national dailies in the continental U.S., also published in its Sunday edition an Associated Press photo that showed the Obamas greeting the Liens at the Hale Koa Hotel where the dinner was held.

Lien captured the spotlight because he was the first guest to arrive at dinner venue since his hotel was close by.

The Taiwan envoy was scheduled to be third in line to enter the dining hall, but many of the guests arrived late because of a traffic jam resulting from the APEC events in the city.

Taiwan's Government Information Office personnel, who are part of the Taiwan delegation to the APEC summit, said other major U.S. media outlets were also expected to use the AP photo of the Liens smiling as they were greeted by U.S. first couple.

This is the fourth consecutive year Lien is representing President Ma at the APEC annual summit. Taiwan's president has been unable to appear in person at APEC gatherings because of China's objections.

(By Lin Shu-yuan and Sofia Wu)
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