TAIPEI (Kyodo) Taiwan's top envoy to Japan was vacationing in Europe as the island he represents reeled from its worst weather disaster in half a century, local media reported Saturday.
John Feng, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to Japan, was traveling in Europe with his family from Aug. 15 to 20 while victims of killer typhoon Morakot were awaiting international aid in Taiwan, the island's cable TV news channels reported, citing Foreign Ministry officials.
According to United Daily News, Feng apologized for his absence in a statement released by Taipei's representative office in Tokyo on Friday.
Feng took time off as Taiwan was struggling in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot, which lashed the island for two days from Aug. 8, leaving more than 500 people dead and causing billions of dollars of damage.
By Aug. 9, Morakot had triggered the worst flooding in Taiwan in 50 years, with the government appealing for international aid by Aug. 14.
On Friday, a five-person team from Japan arrived in the disaster zone with emergency supplies.
A Foreign Ministry press officer confirmed Feng was absent from his post last week but declined to comment further.
The administration of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has come under heavy criticism for its slow response to the storm.