The 11-day trek, including a side trip to Vietnam that lawmakers are paying for, puts Utah leaders in the middle of the international shoving match between Taiwan and China. The Utah House unanimously passed a resolution during the general session supporting Taiwan's involvement in the World Health Organization.

Former state Senate President Cap Ferry, now a lobbyist for several companies, including Envirocare and Pfizer, put the trip together but is not footing any of the bill, according to lawmakers, who call Ferry an "intermediary" for the Taiwanese government.

"The Taiwanese asked us to lead a delegation going over there," Utah Senate President John Valentine said Monday. "We're going to go over and meet with provincial leaders, economic development people. It's trade relations."

Valentine said he is assured that Ferry is not paying for any of the trip and that he is not being paid to bring the lawmakers to the country; the Taiwanese will pay for Ferry to join the lawmakers, however.

The trip will be expensive. No one claimed to know the cost of the trek, but airfare for one person to and from Taipei, Taiwan, ranges from $900 to $1,600, according to one Internet travel site. Hotels range from $122 to $266 a night per room. That means the total bill could top $25,000 for the Utah delegation, but that figure won't have to be disclosed on any lobbyist reports because the trip is classified as "state business," not lobbying.

Government watchdog Claire Geddes called the trip "bizarre," because another government was using a lobbyist to arrange the jaunt. Ferry is not a registered lobbyist for Taiwan.

Geddes questioned whether Ferry should be listed as a lobbyist for the foreign government since he essentially was arranging the trip for a client.

"That's very troublesome, I think," Geddes said. "That gives him some pretty unrestricted time with lawmakers and he is a lobbyist."

Ferry said he wasn't working as a lobbyist and was only helping the Taiwanese government work out the details of the trip. He said the trek was to gather information and also boost Utah as a place to do business.

"Legislators like to see what other legislators do," Ferry said, dubbing the trip as a combination economic development mission and educational experience.

House Speaker Greg Curtis, who along with his wife will join the expedition, says he also had concerns about Ferry's involvement, but he is confident the trip is about Taiwan and not lobbying issues. He says Taiwan officials just want a chance to let other government leaders learn about their situation.

"I think they're trying to promote themselves as a country and independent from China," Curtis said.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., a former U.S. ambassador to Singapore who speaks Mandarin Chinese, declined to comment about the trip. Delegations from Taiwan and China attended Huntsman's inauguration.

Huntsman's economic development director, Chris Roybal, was not invited to join lawmakers on their trip. Valentine said that was because the trip is an interaction between one legislative branch and another.

Those lawmakers going on the trip are: Valentine; Curtis; Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville; Sen. Peter Knudson, R-Brigham City; Sen. Bev Evans, R-Altamont; Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R- Syracuse; Rep. David Clark, R-Santa Clara, and Rep. Brad Last, R-St. George.

Last sponsored the resolution during the recent session supporting Taiwan's involvement in the World Health Organization.

House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake City, says he doesn't have a problem with the trip as long as no state money is used and no favors are curried by the lobbyist involved. But Becker says he does wonder why Utahns are being invited.

"I have a hard time understanding why Taiwan's issues are Utah issues," Becker said, "but I don't know either."

Valentine says the trip will be filled with official business and there will be little, if any recreation or sight-seeing. He said the trip isn't a junket, but an official state visit.

"I did tell the guys, 'Don't take the golf clubs. Vacation will be after we leave Taiwan,' " Valentine said.

tburr@sltrib.com