China regards Taiwan as a renegade province

Liberal International, a federation of over 80 liberal parties from around the world, says President Chen was chosen for his contribution to Taiwan's successful struggle for freedom and democracy, and for his efforts to search for lasting peace with China.

The organisation says he has put dialogue with China high on his political agenda without compromising Taiwan's democratic achievements.

But that has not been enough to persuade European nations to allow him to collect the award.

The ceremony was due to be held in Denmark but it declined to issue him a visa under pressure from China. France too refused, but said it would allow his wife to travel to Paris and then Strasbourg for the ceremony.

Roll of honour

Previous winners have included the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Czech President Vaclav Havel.

President Chen came to prominence as a human rights lawyer. He defended Taiwanese opposition politicians when the island was under one-party rule of the nationalists of the Kuomintang.

In 1980 he was tried for sedition after organising a street protest .

And last year, half-a-century of Kuomintang control of Taiwan came to an end when Chen Shui-bian was elected president of the island.