Chen sorry for snotty remark

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Taipei - Taiwan's foreign minister Mark Chen on Wednesday apologised to Singaporeans over angry remarks he made recently in describing the South-east Asian city-state.

"Yes, it also applies to Singaporeans if they have found the words uncomfortable," said Chen in answering an opposition parliamentarian's query during a parliament session.

Chen was referring to a row he started last week when he called Singapore a "tiny country no bigger than a piece of dried snot," and used an expletive related to the male reproductive organ to accuse the city-state of currying favours with China.

His remarks were later seen as unseemly even by the presidential office, though he explained that he made the comments in an outburst over what he saw as Singapore befriending China at the expense of Taiwan.

News24