1998 , 1999 , Jan - Jun 2000 , Jul - Dec 2000 , 2001
; 2002
China Launches
Fourth Unmanned Spacecraft
(Xinhua News, Dec. 30, 2002) China launched its fourth unmanned spacecraft
"Shenzhou IV" with a " Long March II F" carrier rocket, a
move that could soon lead to its manned space voyage.
Taiwan Students
Pick Jiang as Man of the Year
(AP, Dec. 23, 2002) Taiwanese university students picked Chinese President
Jiang Zemin as 'man of the year' over their own leader, Mr Chen Shui-bian, in
a survey.
China Again Agrees to Let
U.N. Investigate Rights Allegations
(WP, Dec. 18, 2002) China has agreed to invite U.N. investigators into the
country to examine allegations that it jails people without due process,
restricts freedom of religion and allows torture in its prisons.
Report: Taiwan
President Cancels Visit to Indonesia
(AP, Dec. 15, 2002) Taiwan's president has canceled a planned visit to
Indonesia after China warned Jakarta against welcoming him, a semiofficial
news agency reported on Sunday.
Chen Calls for
Asia-Pacific Democracy Alliance
(CNA, Dec. 15, 2002) President Chen Shui-bian said that Taiwan is more than
willing to contribute to the expansion and consolidation of democracy in the
Asia-Pacific region and to the promotion of democratization in mainland
China.
China to Beef Up
Taiwan Policy By Willy Lam
(CNN.com, Dec. 10, 2002) Beijing is expected to beef up its double-pronged
Taiwan policy in the wake of mayoral elections in Taipei and Kaohsiung last
weekend.
Military Ties Report
Will be Done on Time: Kelly
(Taipei Times, Nov. 21, 2002) A senior US official has pledged it will
present to Congress in a timely fashion a report mandated by Congress last
week on the advisability of closer US-Taiwan military relationships.
Chen Calls for
Vigilance Against China Military Threat
(Taiwan News, Nov. 9, 2002) President Chen Shui-bian again urged citizens of
Taiwan to maintain a high level of vigilance against possible military
threats from across the Taiwan Strait.
Elections Won't
Hurt Taiwan's Standing in Congress
(TT, Nov. 7, 2002) Despite the loss of some giants whose support Taiwan
relied on for a solid congressional backbone, the US Congress will remain as
strongly pro-Taiwan when it reconvenes next January.
Taipei Pushes
for Law to Bind Its Citizens to Island
(Straits Times, Nov. 2, 2002) Taiwan wants to push for a loyalty regulation
to bind its people to the island following several cases of retired military
personnel fleeing to China and leakage of military secrets
Taiwan Envoy
Invites China's Jiang Zemin to Visit
(Reuters, Oct. 28, 2002) Taiwan's delegate to an annual summit of Pacific Rim
economies said he got the cold shoulder from Chinese President Jiang Zemin
when he informally invited him to visit the island.
Taiwan Loses Out
Again in APEC
(Taipei Times, Oct. 25, 2002) Taiwan was excluded from a meeting at the
ongoing APEC summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, when foreign ministers of the other
member economies gathered to discuss the fight on terrorism.
Nobel Laureate
Lee to Represent Taiwan at 2002 APEC Summit
(China Post, Oct. 2, 2002) President Chen Shui-bian's has won praise for
appointing Nobel Prize laureate Lee Yuan-tseh his special envoy to the 2002
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Taiwan's China
Airlines Expected to Buy 10 Boeing 747 Jets
(Dow Jones, Sep. 30, 2002) Taiwan's government-controlled China Airlines is
expected to announce soon that it will purchase at least 10 Boeing 747 jumbo
jets that it hadn't planned to buy.
Premier Upholds
Sovereignty over Tiaoyutai
(China Post, Sep. 28, 2002) Premier Yu Shyi-kun maintained Taiwan's
sovereignty over Tiaoyutai. But he refused to comment on Lee's remarks (that
supporting Japan's claims to the islands north of Taiwan.)
Taiwan's First
Lady Begins US Visit
(BBC, Sep. 19, 2002) Taiwan's first lady is flying to the United States for a
trip which the government in Taipei is calling a diplomatic victory. The visit is another example of
the increasingly friendly relations between Taiwan and the US, and one that
is bound to anger China.
U.S. Envoy
to Taiwan: China Not Economic Threat
(Reuters, Sep. 18, 2002) The de facto U.S. ambassador to Taiwan warned the
island that it risked becoming isolated and marginalized unless it stopped
viewing giant neighbor China as an economic threat.
Taiwan Again Fails
in Bid for Recognition at U.N. General Assembly
(AP, Sep. 12, 2002) After hearing members' views, the general committee of
the General Assembly declined to include the question of Taiwan on the agenda
of the current session.
China Blocks Web
Search Engines
(WP, Sep. 12, 2002) China's government has begun blocking access in recent
days to two widely used Internet search engines, Google and AltaVista,
intensifying its effort to control the flow of information.
Our Aim is to
Democratize Mainland China, Chen Says
(China Post, Sep. 9, 2002) The president reiterated Taiwan will play a role
in the mainland's democratization, adding the island has been supportive of
Washington's battle against terrorism.
Terrorism Tops
Agenda at Leaders' Summit
(Taipei Times, Sep. 8, 2002) President Chen Shui-bian will chair a second
gathering of key policymakers from the government and the DPP, this time to
seek a consensus on Taiwan's overall security strategy.
Taiwan's First
Lady Wu to visit US
(AFP, Sep. 8, 2002) First Lady Wu Shu-chen is scheduled to visit the United
States to promote Taiwan's democratic achievements.
Chien Praises
European Resolution
(Taipei Times, Sep. 7, 2002) Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien
expressed his appreciation to the European Parliament for passing a
resolution he said would improve relations between Taiwan and the EU.
Taiwan Using
Labour Import as Bargaining Chip
(Straits Times, Sep. 6, 2002) Taiwan is using the employment of workers from
the region to influence South-East Asian countries in its diplomatic tussle
with China.
Taiwan Backed
Anti-Terrorism Effort: NSC
(Taipei Times, Sep. 3, 2002) National Security Council Secretary-General
Chiou I-jen revealed that Taiwan has donated more than US$100 million to the
international community for anti-terrorist actions over the past year.
Chen Urges Asian
Democracy Pact
(Taipei Times, Aug. 27, 2002) President Chen Shui-bian urged Taiwan to join
like-minded democracies in the region to form what he called an "Asian
democratic alliance" to help transform authoritarian countries such as
China into democracies.
Four Allies
Reaffirm Ties with Taiwan
(Taiwan News, Aug. 23, 2002) Four allies in the Eastern Caribbean region
reaffirmed diplomatic ties with Taiwan yesterday by signing a joint
communiqué.
Chen Talks More
Softly to China
(Taipei Times, Aug. 21, 2002) Taiwan will continue to push for
"all-dimensional" diplomacy and does not want to engage China in a
"zero-sum" game.
U.N. Slams China
'Anti-Terror' Crackdown
(CNN.com, Aug. 20, 2002) The U.N.'s top official for human rights has
criticized China for using the September 11 terror attacks to crack down on
dissent. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson raised the
concerns.
New AIT Chief
Chosen for U.S. Headquarters
(China Post, Aug. 18, 2002 ) Therese M. Shaheen has been chosen to head
operations at the Rosslyn, Virginia, offices of the AIT, the entity that
coordinates relations between Taipei and Washington.
China Mocks
Taiwan Trip as 'Farce'
(Reuters, Aug. 18, 2002) Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu has said her visit
to Indonesia was a setback for arch-rival Beijing and a diplomatic victory
for Taipei, but China has mocked her trip as a farce.
Taiwan VP
Says Visit Part of "Secretive Diplomatic Battle"
(Reuters, Aug. 17, 2002) Taiwanese Vice-President Annette Lu returned home on
Saturday after ruffling arch-rival China's feathers with a visit to
Indonesia, which recognises Beijing but not Taipei.
Beijing Stifles
Taiwan's Travel Plans
(CNN.com, Aug. 16, 2002) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian is persevering with
plans to visit Southeast Asia and other regions despite efforts from Beijing
to contain Taipei's diplomatic leverage.
Chinese Pressure
Blocks Taiwan V-P's Jakarta Visit
(Straits Times, Aug. 15, 2002) Taiwan's Vice-President Annette Lu was cooling
her heels in Bali yesterday after China intervened and blocked a planned
visit to Jakarta for high-level talks.
Chen Calls U.S.
Taiwan's Most Helpful Friend
(Taiwan News, Aug. 13, 2002) President Chen Shui-bian expressed the hope that
the U.S. can become a force that Taiwan can count on for international
support and military assistance.
President Chen's
Comments May Not Be Nat'l Policy: MAC
(China Post, Aug. 3, 2002) MAC official said Whether the president's certain
statements can eventually shape into policies will have to be interpreted by
the president himself.
Poll Suggests
Fear
about ‘Own
Way’
(AP, Aug. 2, 2002) Slightly more than 50 percent of Taiwanese are worried
that President Chen Shui-bian is thinking about moving Taiwan toward formal
independence if China does not reciprocate his goodwill.
Taiwan Russia
Association Inaugurated, Calls for Closer Ties
(China Post, July 28, 2002) The Taiwan Russia Association, a high-profile
non-profit organization, was inaugurated in Taipei with the mission to
further the bilateral ties between Taiwan and Russia.
Lee Teng-hui Predicts
New State in 2008
(Taiwan News, July 25, 2002) The rise of localization in Taiwan is likely to
push the nation to establish a new state in 2008 as it faces China's strong
sense of nationalism, former President Lee Teng-hui said.
Nation Left with
27 Friends After Nauru Defection
(Taipei Times, July 22, 2002) Government officials urged Nauru not to be taken
in by Beijing after the president from the tiny Pacific island sealed an
agreement in Hong Kong establishing diplomatic ties with China.
NSC Urges
'Offensive' Foreign Policy
(Taipei Times, July 19, 2002) Taiwan should put more resources in
"offensive" instead of "defensive" strategies in
expanding the country's foreign relations, said Secretary-General of the
National Security Council (NSC) Chiou I-jen in a closed-door talk.
Confusion to
Continue over Spelling in Taiwan
(Financial Times; Jul 17, 2002) Taiwan is trying to end decades of confusion
over its policy on Chinese romanisation but analysts say the effort spells
little but trouble.
China: Sino-Russian
Military Exercise Not Targeting Third Country
(People’s Daily, July 12, 2002) A Sino-Russian joint military exercise
scheduled for August aims to test the reliability of bilateral military
communications and will not target any third country.
U.S.-Taiwan
Free Trade Zone Said to Require A Lot of Work
(Reuters, July 5, 2002) There is no legal impediment to a free trade
agreement between Taiwan and the United States but Taipei "has a lot of
work to do" before such an accord would be possible. The Bush
administration has not taken an official position on Taiwan's interest in
negotiating a free trade zone.
Washington
Visit by Taiwan Leader Unlikely In Near Term
(Reuters, July 4, 2002) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian is unlikely to visit
Washington in the forseeable future because of Chinese objections, despite a
desire by pro-Taiwan members of the U.S. Congress to have such a trip take
place, U.S. officials say .
New Taiwan-Hong
Kong Aviation Agreement Raises Criticisms
(AFP, July 1, 2002) Taiwan and Hong Kong struck an aviation agreement late
Saturday, amid criticism that Taipei backed down from demands for direct
governmental talks over air links between the two.
China
Against Quick Move by Hong Kong to Full Democracy
(Reuters, June 26, 2002) Beijing is against any rapid change in Hong Kong's
electoral system, including full democratic elections and universal suffrage,
the South China Morning Post said.
China Warns Allies
Not to Sign Accords with Taiwan
(AP, June 22, 2002) China warned its allies yesterday not to sign free trade
agreements with archrival Taiwan, saying doing so would invite political
trouble.
NSC Defends
Loyalty-Test Plans
(Taipei Times, June 13, 2002) Plans to conduct loyalty checks on government
employees in sensitive positions have been proposed not to attack political
rivals within the country but to ensure Taiwan's national security in the
face of intimidation from outside forces, China in particular.
Navy Arrests Petty
Officer for Possible Information Leak
(Taipei Times, June 12, 2002) A naval petty officer was taken into custody
last Wednesday by military prosecutors on suspicion of leaking highly
classified information to a person outside the military.
Democratic
Alliance Taking Shape Between Taiwan, US: Chen
(CNA, June 5, 2002) An alliance based on the principles of democracy, freedom
and human rights is taking shape between Taiwan and the United States,
President Chen Shui-bian said.
'Defector' Lin's
Case Taken Up by DPP
(China Post, May 30, 2002) Legislators from the Democratic Progressive Party demanded
that the government allow a key adviser to leaders in Beijing, who allegedly
defected from his ROC military officer post in 1979, to attend his father's
funeral in Taiwan.
Beijing Wooing
Overseas Chinese Away from Taiwan: Officials
(Taiwan News, May 30, 2002) Overseas Chinese communities are facing
unparalleled challenges in a tug-of-war for their loyalty, as China has
stepped up its campaign around the world in an effort to siphon off their
traditional support for Taiwan's administration.
NDU and NTU Plan
to Cooperate with the Help of MND
(Taipei Times, May 29, 2002) The National Defense University is to sign today
a pact with its civilian counterpart National Taiwan University on academic
cooperation between the two.
Chen Outlines 7
Policy Goals for Next 6 Years
(CNA, May 27, 2002) President Chen Shui-bian said his seven policy objectives
must be accomplished in the next six years, enabling Taiwan to score at least
14 "firsts" in the global market.
Taiwan-US
Relations Best for Last 30 Years: Chen
(CNA, May 24, 2002) Present bilateral relations between Taipei and Washington
are better since U.S. President George W. Bush came to power in 2000 than
they have been for the last 30 years, President Chen Shui-bian said.
Taiwan Leader
Touts Free-Trade Deals
(Yomiuri Shimbun, May 18, 2002) In light of the dramatic advances made by the
Chinese economy, Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian called for the conclusion of
free-trade agreements with Japan, the United States and other Asia-Pacific
nations.
China Lifts
Blocks on Some Western News Sites
(Reuters, May 17, 2002) China appears to have lifted long-standing blocks on
the Web sites of several Western news organizations, which were accessible
today through local Internet connections in Beijing and Shanghai.
'Beijing's NATO'
Hits Stumbling Block
(CNN.com, May 16, 2002) Beijing's efforts to resuscitate the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) have been hurt by Uzbekistan's failure to send
a representative to a meeting of the grouping's defense ministers.
President Chen
Says Taiwan Is "Fit" to be Independent
(AFP, May 13, 2002) Taiwan is "fit to be an independent country,"
Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian said in remarks made public, adding that
he wants to make a formal visit to the United States.
Taipei Steps Up
Bid for Recognition by the WHO
(Financial Times, April 19, 2002) Taiwan is mounting a determined effort to
ease its diplomatic isolation by seeking observer status in the World Health
Organisation next month. While unlikely to succeed this year, the campaign
has brought Taiwan the closest to gaining status in any United Nations
organization.
Mainland
Oceanographic Ship Raises Security Alert
(China Post, April 16, 2002) Military authorities confirmed that a mainland
ship conducting oceanographic studies off the coast of southeastern Taiwan
had raised a security alert, but stopped short of calling the vessel a spy
ship.
Taiwan's Largest
Annual Military Exercise Begins
(Taipei Times, April 9, 2002) The military's largest annual exercise, called
"Hankuang No. 18," began and is scheduled to continue for a month
and a half. The exercise, divided into three stages, began with computer war
gaming.
China Presses U.S.
over Taiwan 'Republic' Comments
(CNN.com, April 6, 2002) China has asked the White House to explain comments
from U.S. President George W. Bush that referred to Taiwan as the
"Republic of Taiwan." Bush used the term at the State Department
while pointing out how China and Taiwan's accession to the World Trade
Organization represented a positive development for the United States.
U.S. Bill Backs
Taiwan as Observer in WHO
(Taiwan News, April 6, 2002) U.S. President George W. Bush signed a bill to
back up Taiwan's campaign to obtain observer status at the annual assembly of
the World Health Organization in Geneva in May.
China Plans
Space Station After Unmanned Launch
(Reuters, April 3, 2002) China, basking in the success of its third unmanned
spacecraft mission, plans to send people into space in the foreseeable future
and eventually to man a permanent space station.
Chen Vows to
Balance Freedom and National Security
(China Post, March 26, 2002) President Chen Shui-bian yesterday said neither
national security nor freedom of the press should be given unlimited
supremacy. "There is no absolute contradiction and confrontation between
national security and press freedom," said Chen during a meeting with
military leaders.
Blair Remarks on
Cross-Strait Divide
(CNA, March 24, 2002) Political consultations between the two sides of the
Taiwan Strait will be the ultimate solution to the Taiwan question, the
commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific command said.
Taiwanese Officials
Confiscate Copies of Magazine in Raid
(New York Times, March 22, 2002) Taiwan's government has stunned its
freewheeling news media by seeking to ban a weekly magazine that was about to
publish an article potentially damaging to the island's president, Chen
Shui-bian.
Pacific Military
Command Goes to Adm. Fargo
(Honolulu Advertiser, March 22, 2002) Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Thomas B.
Fargo has been chosen to take over the job of his boss, Adm. Dennis Blair, as
the 20th commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Command.
Taiwan Defends
Raid on Magazine
(Reuters, March 23, 2002) Facing mounting criticism, Taiwan officials
defended a raid on a magazine owned by Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai,
saying it leaked state secrets putting national security in jeopardy.
NSB Says Magazine
Raid Was Issue of National Security
(China Post, March 21, 2002) The National Security Bureau and the Justice
Ministry yesterday defended the raid on Next Magazine accused of leaking
classified information in its yet-to-be published report on the top
intelligence body's NT$3.5 billion secret funds.
Taipei Police Raid
Magazine
(CNN.com, March 20, 2002) Taipei police have seized copies of a magazine
which purported to carry classified documents containing allegations linking
former President Lee Teng to the use of a multi-million dollar slush fund.
Taiwan 'Embassy'
Changes Anger China
(BBC, Feb. 27, 2002) China has reacted angrily to Taiwanese plans to change
the names of its representative offices abroad to make them easier to
recognise. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan warned Taiwan against
what he described as "creeping independence".
Most Taiwanese
Believe United States Is on Their Side: Poll
(AFP, Feb. 25, 2002) Some 54 percent of the 829 people polled believe
Washington would stick to its pledge of helping the island defend itself against
threats from Beijing. Only 26 percent thought the US word could not be relied
on.
MOFA Mulls `Taiwan'
for Office Names
(Taipei Times, Feb. 25, 2002) In the wake of adding the word "Taiwan"
to ROC passports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced it is
establishing a task force to study the feasibility of changing the name of
Taiwan's representative offices overseas.
MAC Says Foreign
Investment Won't Save China's Poor Economy
(CNA, Feb. 12, 2002) China's economic powerhouse may find the going gets
tough this year, despite a projected increase in foreign investment, a study
released by the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said.
Kau Urges Guarding
Against 'Denationalization'
(CNA, Feb. 8, 2002) The National Security Council Adviser Kau Ying-mao, who
has been tapped to be the vice minister of foreign affairs, said in
Washington that Beijing is going out of its way to "denationalize"
the Republic of China.
Beijing Blasts Bush
on 'Axis of Evil'
(CNN.com, Feb. 4, 2002) Beijing has blasted President George W. Bush's theory
of the "axis of evil," saying this could become a pretext for
Washington to launch strikes against Iran, Iraq and North Korea. In a
hard-hitting commentary, the official Xinhua news agency said such an axis simply
did not exist.
Taiwan Parliament
Sworn In
(BBC, Feb. 1, 2002) Taiwan's newly elected legislators are taking office on
Friday, with President Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party becoming
the largest single group in parliament, for the first time.
China Feeling Spirit
of Civic Rights
(Taiwan News, Jan. 30, 2002) The concept of legal rights has started emerging
among the general public in China, a development that is noticeable but
probably worrisome for Beijing authorities, the China representative of the
Asia Foundation said.
Beijing, Taipei to
Install Crime Info Hotline
(CNA, Jan. 29,2002) Criminal-investigation authorities on both sides of the
Taiwan Strait have tentatively agreed to install a hotline to exchange
information on crime. …the
preliminary agreement was reached during a visit to China late last year.
China Unveils 2002
Space Plans
(CNN.com, Jan. 24, 2002) China hopes to launch about 10 satellites, rockets
and spacecraft in 2002 as part of its space development program. China has
also indicated its ambitions to send a man to the moon and hopes to send a
manned craft into space by 2005.
Controversy
Continues Over New Taiwan Passport Cover
(CNA, Jan. 15, 2002) President Chen Shui-bian's announcement Sunday that he
has approved the adding of "Taiwan" to the cover of Republic of
China passports continued to draw mixed reactions Monday from Taiwan's major
political parties -- including his own.
China Slams Changes
in Taiwan Passports as Attempt at Independence
(AFP, Jan. 14, 2002) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's decision to place the
name "Taiwan" on the cover of the island's passports was an attempt
to seek eventual independence, the China Daily said quoting a spokesman of
the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.
President Gives
Approval to Add 'Taiwan' Title on Passport Cover
(Taiwan News, Jan. 14, 2002) President Chen Shui-bian yesterday announced
that he had given his approval to add the word "Taiwan" in English
on the cover of the national passport to better distinguish it from that of
the People's Republic of China.
U.S. Not Backing
Out of Arms Deal with Taiwan
(Taiwan News, Jan. 8, 2002) The accession to the World Trade Organization by
both Taiwan and China should be applauded and should be able to "revitalize
the cross-strait dialogue," the visiting chairman of the U.S.-China
Security Review Commission said. "I understand there is some kind of
radar issue with regards to the arms sales. But as far as we know, we are not
involved in that. We have no interest in it and it's not part of our
mandate."
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