Action movie hero Jackie Chan waded back into Taiwanese politics yesterday, saying he stood by his earlier remarks that the island's hotly disputed presidential election was the 'biggest joke in the world'.
Chan's latest comments, made in Hollywood during a break from promoting his latest film, Around the World in 80 Days, are expected to draw criticism from Taiwan and renewed calls for a boycott of his movies.
Chan's original remarks infuriated many Taiwanese. Former Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Paris Chang Shu-cheng proposed a campaign to boycott his films in Taiwan.
The uproar appeared not to bother Chan. 'I won't deny what I say. I just said it. What can I do?' he said.
'I heard many people say the election was a joke. This person said it's a joke, the newspaper said it's a joke.
'Suddenly at a fashion show someone asked me what did I feel about the election in Taiwan. I simply repeated what others said: it's a joke. One hundred years from now, it will still be a joke.'