"We urge the public to calmly view our relations with Singapore from a rational perspective," Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said it was hopeful that cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and Singapore would continue despite the recent spat.

Scores of people in the southern city of Kaohsiung burnt Singapore's flag in a park to show their support for Chen after his comment sparked an outcry here and in Singapore.

"Even a country the size of a booger brazenly criticized Taiwan and former president Lee Teng-hui in the United Nations," Chen said on Monday in response to Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo's speech at the UN General Assembly.

He also said Yeo's remark, which warned that an independence drive in Taiwan would lead to war with China, was "nothing but an effort to embrace China's "balls."

Taiwanese legislators criticised the remarks, as did Singapore.

"Resort to intemperate language cannot assuage these concerns. Many other countries also believe that Taiwan is pursuing a dangerous course towards independence," a Singaporean statement said.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification -- by force if necessary. The two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949.

                                                      Home