The official said the United States has always demonstrated the utmost concern for the people of Taiwan, rejecting Chen’s criticism that the transit arrangements are humiliating to the Taiwan people.

Reportedly as a way of expressing its displeasure with the Chen administration’s push for a referendum on the country’s U.N. membership bid under the name of Taiwan, Washington has refused to allow Chen to stop over in major U.S. cities other than Anchorage, Alaska for his latest visit to Central America. Washington also reportedly refused to allow Chen to stay overnight during the transit stops.

During his brief transit stop in Anchorage Tuesday en route to Honduras — the first leg of his three-nation Central America visit, Chen opted to stay on his chartered plane in what was seen as a gesture of protest against Washington’s restrictions regarding his transit stops.

Speaking with American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Honorary Chairman William Brown, who boarded Chen’s plane to greet him, the president reportedly described the treatment accorded to him as “inconvenient, uncomfortable and indecent,” according to Presidential Office Deputy Secretary General Chen Chi-mai.

Stressing the planned referendum is backed by a majority of the Taiwan people, Chen reportedly told Brown that the U.S.

restrictions concerning his transit stops are tantamount to punishment of the people of Taiwan, according to Chen Chi-mai.

The major purpose of Chen’s Central America trip is to take part in the sixth leadership summit between Taiwan and its diplomatic allies in the region to be held in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa.

The president will also visit El Salvador and Nicaragua before returning to Taiwan Aug. 29.