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Protesters greet Jackie Chan in Taiwan

19.06.2008 21:01 Arts - Source: cbc.ca

Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan laughed off criticism at a news conference in Taipei Wednesday.(Wally Santana/Associated Press)

Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan continues to be dogged by political remarks he made four years ago in Taiwan.

He was greeted with protesters yelling "Jackie Chan, get out" on Wednesday when he arrived in Taipei for a charity event, according to Agence France Presse.

The protesters were angry over remarks he made four years ago about the island's presidential elections.

At that time, Chan insinuated that President Chen Shui-Bian staged an election-eve shooting that give him a margin over his opponent during the presidential runoff.

"It's the biggest joke in the world," he said of the March 2004 presidential electiion.

Chen and his running mate Annette Wu were lightly wounded in the shooting, which helped boost him ahead of his opponent by a razor-thin margin. Opposition parties alleged that the shooting was staged to win a sympathy vote.

Chen's Democratic Progressive Party favours national independence for Taiwan, a stance frowned on by the Chinese mainland which still considers the island part of China.

Chan, star of Rush Hour and The Forbidden Kingdom, had to be escorted from his private jet by police and bodyguards on Wednesday.

"Jackie Chan insulted Taiwanese people and denied the value of our democracy," a woman told CTI TV at the airport.

It was Chan's first trip to Taiwan in four years and follows the election of Chen's opponent Ma Ying-jeou of the Nationalists as president. The new president promises closer ties to China, ending talk of independence.

Chan dismissed the criticism over his remarks at a news conference to promote a charity that supports youth soccer teams.

"My affection for Taiwan … is witnessed by everyone. My wife is Taiwanese and I am a son-in-law of Taiwan. I am half Taiwanese," he said.

Chan has a big following in Taiwan and in most of Greater China as the star of dozens of Chinese-language martial arts films.

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