Taiwan "very proud" of Lee Ang, who wins Best Director Oscar for second time

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan basked in reflected glory Monday after film-maker Lee Ang won the best director Oscar for fantasy epic Life Of Pi, which he shot on the diplomatically isolated island where he was born.

Taiwan Culture Minister Lung Ying-tai sent a congratulatory telegram to Lee, probably the island's most famous living son, promptly after the news broke that he had won his second Academy Award for directing.

"I'm very pleased to hear that you... have won the Oscar honour. We feel very proud of you," she said, according to the ministry.

The Oscar came as a rare chance for Taiwan, living in the shadow of giant neighbour China, to savour the global limelight after the small island found its way into Lee's acceptance speech.