Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan is back in Taiwan again four years after angering then President Chen Shui-bian's supporters with his controversial remark about an assassination attempt targeting the head of state.
Chan was greeted by a protest by opposition supporters and a welcome by fans at the same time at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday as he arrived aboard a private plane.
"Get out, Jackie Chan," the protesters chanted as they were blocked by police.
"Welcome, Jackie Chan," the fans countered.
Chan is here for a charity event to raise funds for needy children.
He angered Chen's supporters four years ago by describing the March 19 pre-election shooting -- in which the ex-president was injured -- as a "big joke."
He did not set foot on Taiwan again until yesterday.
Government Information Office Minister Vanessa Yea-ping Shih said Taiwan should always give a warm welcome to those who come to take part in charity activities.
She described Taiwan as a "lovely society with friendly people who accept different opinions."
Asked whether Chan will be invited to attend the Golden Horse Film Festival this year, Shih said art and politics are two different matters that should not be mixed.
She said it is up to the festival organizer to decide whether an invitation will be extended to the movie star.
But in Taichung City, the host of this year's film festival, councilors from Chen's Democratic Progressive Party have demanded that Chan not be invited.
They said that Chan "owes Taiwan an apology" for his "big joke" comment, which DPP Councilor Hsiao Chieh described as a "humiliation to all of Taiwan's people."
Chan agreed to help promote the charity campaign in Taiwan because it was similar to the "One-Dollar Fund" program he launched to offer care for children, according to the organizer, the TVBS Caring for Taiwan Foundation.
It said Chan wants to help Taiwan children after learning that some 50,000 of them live in households incapable of paying their education costs.
Chan was greeted by a protest by opposition supporters and a welcome by fans at the same time at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport yesterday as he arrived aboard a private plane.
"Get out, Jackie Chan," the protesters chanted as they were blocked by police.
"Welcome, Jackie Chan," the fans countered.
Chan is here for a charity event to raise funds for needy children.
He angered Chen's supporters four years ago by describing the March 19 pre-election shooting -- in which the ex-president was injured -- as a "big joke."
He did not set foot on Taiwan again until yesterday.
Government Information Office Minister Vanessa Yea-ping Shih said Taiwan should always give a warm welcome to those who come to take part in charity activities.
She described Taiwan as a "lovely society with friendly people who accept different opinions."
Asked whether Chan will be invited to attend the Golden Horse Film Festival this year, Shih said art and politics are two different matters that should not be mixed.
She said it is up to the festival organizer to decide whether an invitation will be extended to the movie star.
But in Taichung City, the host of this year's film festival, councilors from Chen's Democratic Progressive Party have demanded that Chan not be invited.
They said that Chan "owes Taiwan an apology" for his "big joke" comment, which DPP Councilor Hsiao Chieh described as a "humiliation to all of Taiwan's people."
Chan agreed to help promote the charity campaign in Taiwan because it was similar to the "One-Dollar Fund" program he launched to offer care for children, according to the organizer, the TVBS Caring for Taiwan Foundation.
It said Chan wants to help Taiwan children after learning that some 50,000 of them live in households incapable of paying their education costs.
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