1998 , 1999 , Jan - Jun 2000 , Jul - Dec 2000 , 2001 ; 2002 ; 2003-2004
2005-2006
Big Quake Cuts
Communications in Taiwan
(AP, Dec. 28, 2006)
Undersea fiber-optic cables were damaged by a powerful earthquake off the
southern tip of Taiwan,
causing the largest outage of telephone and Internet service in years and
demonstrating the vulnerability of the global telecommunications network.
Coast
Guard Steps Up South China Sea Patrols
(AFP, Dec. 25, 2006) Taiwanese coastguards have stepped up patrol in the
disputed South China Sea after local fishermen complained that they were
harassed and robbed by Vietnamese pirates, it has been reported.
Vatican Wants China Ties But
Will Stick by Taiwan
(Reuters, Dec. 6, 2006) The Vatican will move to resume relations with China
after more than half a century if religious freedom is allowed but it will
not abandon China's diplomatic rival Taiwan.
Asians Foresee US Losing
Superpower Status to China: Poll
(AFP, Oct. 12, 2006) Asians see the United States losing its undisputed
superpower status in 50 years to possibly China amid waning trust in
Washington to act responsibly in the world, a poll shows. But most Asians
felt the growth of Chinese military power would be a potential source of
conflict between major powers in the region.
China Muslim Activist: From
Unknown to Nobel Nominee
(Reuters, Sep. 11, 2006) Rebiya Kadeer, 58, an ethnic Uighur jailed for more
than five years in China for providing state secrets to foreigners before her
exile, won a Rafto Prize for human rights in Norway in 2004 and has been
nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year.
China Jails Reporter for 5
Years as Spy
(NYT, Aug. 31. 2006) A Hong Kong journalist , Ching Cheong, has been
sentenced to five years in prison after a Beijing court convicted him on
charges of spying for Taiwan, state media reported Thursday morning.
Hong Kong Passes
Controversial Spy Bill
(Associated Press, Aug. 6, 2006) Hong Kong's legislature passed a law
regulating phone tapping and other surveillance measures, a move critics fear
will curtail civil liberties in the former British colony now ruled by China.
Taiwan Is America's 13th
Closest Ally: U.S. Survey
(Central News Agency, Aug. 6, 2006) Taiwan is considered by some Americans as
the 13th closest ally of the United States among a list of 25 countries,
ranking far ahead of China, which takes 23rd place.
China Tightening Control
Over Tibet
(Washington Post, Aug. 5, 2006) China's Communist Party has been tightening
its grip on Tibet in recent months, resorting to language and measures not
seen since the repression of the late 1990s, according to sources with
knowledge of the situation.
Wal-Mart Workers in China
Form First Union
(AFP, July 30, 2004) US retail giant Wal-Mart Stores saw its first trade
union formed for workers at one its 60 shops in China. For the past two years
the world's biggest retailer had resisted efforts to set up local unions,
which are all affiliated with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions
(ACFTU), which was established by the ruling Communist Party.
Taiwan
Opposition Leader Departs for Japan
(Kyodo
News, July 10, 2006) Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party Chairman Ma
Ying-jeou embarked on a six-day journey to Japan on Monday in a bid to seek
mutual understanding and cement ties with one of the island's most
significant regional partners.
Taiwan, Nicaragua Sign Free
Trade Agreement
(CNA, June 17, 2006) Taiwan and Nicaragua signed a free trade agreement (FTA)
in Taipei, a move that is expected to strengthen bilateral cooperation in
trade and investment.
China Scraps Taiwan Scam
Buster's Speech at Peking U.
(China Post, May 29, 2006) Lawmaker Chiu Yi of the opposition Kuomintang,
hailed as a "national hero" in China for his fearless exposing of
series alleged corruption in Taiwan's political scene, was forced to cancel a
speech on democracy and freedom of press he was scheduled to deliver in China's
elite Peking University.
Taiwan President's
Son-in-Law Held in Scandal
(Reuters, May 25, 2006) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's son-in-law was
detained on Thursday after marathon questioning on suspicion of insider
trading in a scandal that has sparked opposition calls for Chen's
resignation.
New Graft Allegations hit
Chen's Son-in-Law
(Straits Times, May 24, 2006) An insider-trading scandal implicating
President Chen Shui-bian's son-in-law widened following fresh allegations
that Mr Chao Chien-ming could have used his connections to secure
land-development rights for a real-estate developer.
US Eyes Closer Trade Ties
with Taiwan, But No Pact
(Reuters, May 23, 2006) The United States has no immediate plans to negotiate
a free trade pact with Taiwan, but is eager to discuss other ways to expand
economic ties, a top U.S. trade official told reporters.
Taiwan First Lady Sells All
Shares, Gives Profits to Charity
(Bloomberg, May 4, 20060 The wife of Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian will
donate NT$4 million to eight charities and minority groups, after selling all
of her stock and fund holdings. The donation includes NT$2.6 million of gains
made from investments.
Taiwan Says Bush Concessions
to China Would Hurt U.S. Integrity (Bloomberg, Apr. 18, 2006) Taiwan has warned U.S. President George
W. Bush that any concessions to China over the island would risk damaging his
nation's foreign policy integrity.
China
Offers Aid Package to Pacific Islands
(AFP, Apr. 5, 2006) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
has announced a new package of aid to Pacific countries as Beijing sought to deepen
China's influence among the island nations and contain Taiwan's diplomatic
clout.
China's Wen Counters Taiwan
with Pacific Trip
(AFP, Apr. 2, 2006) Wen Jiabao will become the first Chinese premier to visit
the Pacific islands, a longtime diplomatic battleground for China and Taiwan.
Ma Meets Zoellick in
Washington
(China Post, Mar. 24, 2006) Kuomintang Chairman Ma Ying-jeou met Robert
Zoellick, U.S. deputy secretary of state, in Washington for a closed-door
talk for three hours. After the meeting, Ma told the press he "said what
I ought to say."
Taiwan's Ruling Party Stages
Rally Protesting China
(Bloomberg, Mar. 19, 2006) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President
Annette Lu joined a rally by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
today after a march through downtown Taipei to protest at China's hard-line
stance toward the island.
MAC: China Is the Real
Troublemaker
(China Post, Feb. 9, 2006) The government slammed China, saying it was a
"troublemaker" for its increasing military build-up, in the latest
verbal crossfire between the two rivals.
China Slams Taiwan President
as "Troublemaker"
(Reuters, Feb. 8, 2006) China condemned Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's plan
to scrap 15-year-old official guidelines on unification, calling him a
"troublemaker" and "saboteur" of peace and stability in
Asia.
Hong Kong Democrats Defeat
Beijing-Backed Political Changes
(NYT, Dec. 22, 2005) Democracy advocates defeated a government-backed
legislative proposal to revamp the political system here, dealing a sharp
setback to the chief executive and to Beijing.
Ex-US Official Guilty of
Lying about Taiwan Trip
(Reuters, Dec. 12, 2005) Former senior State Department official pleaded
guilty to illegally removing classified documents and to making false
statements about a trip to Taiwan and a relationship with a Taiwanese
intelligence officer.
Foreign Opinion
Leaders Have
Positive View
of Taiwan: Poll
(China Post, Nov. 25, 2005) Most people
and opinion leaders from foreign countries hold a positive impression of
Taiwan and understand that Taiwan and mainland
China are separate countries.
Senegal
Received 150 Million Dollars in Taiwan Aid
(AFP, Nov. 6, 2005) Senegal received more than 5.0 billion Taiwan dollars
(148.8 million US) in aid from Taiwan before switching its diplomatic
recognition from Taipei to Beijing, Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian was
quoted as saying.
Undemocratic China a Threat
to World Peace: Former President Lee (CNA, Nov.
6, 2005)
Former President Lee Teng-hui said yesterday that an
undemocratic China with strong economic and military power is a threat to
world peace, just as Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler was in the 1930s.
China Lectured by Taiwan
Ally
(New York Times, Sep. 23, 2005) Li Ao, a politician and author who says that Taiwan
should unify with Communist China, recently chided China's leaders for
suppressing free speech.
Taiwan Reaches a US$3bn Deal
with Farmers Across US
(Taipei Times, Sep. 16, 2005) Taiwan inked a new pact in which it committed
to purchase up to US$3.1 billion in agricultural produce from the US.
China Calls for "Fair
and Effective" Security Order
(AFP, Sep. 16, 2005) Chinese leader Hu Jintao called on world leaders at a
summit to establish a new "fair and effective" security order and
step up cooperation in combating global terrorism.
Move to Democracy Unstoppable
in China, Says Blair
(Telegraph, Sep. 7, 2005) China is showing signs of an "unstoppable
momentum" propelling it towards democracy, at the end of a two-day stay
in Beijing, the Prime Minister said.
Blair Talks Politics in
China as Firms Do Deals
(Reuters, Sep. 6, 2005) Prime Minister Tony Blair held wide-ranging talks
with Premier Wen Jiabao, the second day of a visit to China, and presided
over banking and airliner deals.
China Charges HK Reporter as
Spy
(BBC, Aug. 5, 2005) China has formally charged Hong Kong journalist Ching
Cheong, 55, with spying for its rival Taiwan. Mr Ching, the chief China
correspondent for Singapore's Straits Times, had been detained since late
April.
Detained Singapore Straits
Times Journalist Was a Spy: China
(AFP, May 31, 2005) Ching Cheong, 55, the Hong Kong-based chief China
correspondent for the paper, was detained on April 22 in the southern city of
Guangzhou.
Taiwan Needs FTA with US to
Ward Off China, Says Chen
(AFP, May 31, 2005) Taiwan desperately needs a free trade agreement (FTA)
with the United States to protect itself against China's growing economic
dominance, the island's President Chen Shui-bian told a visiting US senator.
WHO Agrees to Visit Taiwan
If Needed: Memo
(CNA, May 30, 2005) If Taiwan experiences an outbreak of disease that might
seriously affect public health, the World Health Organization will, if necessary, send experts here to
give assistance, according to the contents of a memorandum of understanding
it signed on May 14 with China.
Taiwan Blames China for
Failed WHO Bid
(Reuters, May 18, 2005) Taiwan blamed China for blocking the island's bid for
observer status at the World Health Organisation's (WHO) annual assembly for
a ninth straight year, saying the move would further alienate Taiwan people.
Taiwan's WHA Hopes Dashed in
Ninth Bid
(Taiwan News, May 17, 2005) Taiwan failed for the ninth consecutive year to
gain observer status in the World Health Assembly, the supreme
decision-making of the World Health Organization.
Chen Lashes Out at Friends and Foes to Win Votes
(Straits Times, May 11, 2005) Setting his sights on
success in Saturday's National Assembly polls, Taiwanese President Chen
Shui-bian has gone into all-out election mode. But even DPP legislators warn
that the verbal attacks will backfire.
Taiwan's Chen Heads for
Pope's Funeral as China Fumes
(Reuters, Apr. 8, 2005) Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian left for an
unprecedented visit to the Vatican to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul,
undermining chances of the Holy See switching ties from Taipei to Beijing.
Vatican Considers Cutting
Ties with Taiwan –Bishop
(Reuters, Apr. 5, 2005) The Vatican is reluctantly ready to cut ties with
Taiwan and recognize China if Beijing can guarantee religious freedom, the
head of the Hong Kong Roman Catholic diocese said.
TSU Chair Greeted with Loud
Protests
(Taiwan News, Apr. 6, 2005) Shu Chin-chiang, chairman of Taiwan Solidarity
Union, was greeted with protests on his return from Japan where he paid a
controversial visit to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.
Taiwanese Hardliner Visits
Japan's War Shrine
(AFP, Apr. 5, 2005) The leader of hardline pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity
Union (TSU) made a pilgrimage yesterday to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.
Government Hires Top
Lobbying Firm in Washington Deal
(China Post, Apr. 2, 2005) The government has hired a top Washington lobbying
firm with connections to the U.S. Republican Party to represent its interests
in the U.S. in a US$4.5 million deal.
Taiwan Democracy a Model for
Middle East: Wolfowitz
(China Post, Feb. 5, 2005) Wolfowitz characterized Taiwan as a
"stunning" example of a country that had been peacefully
transformed from an authoritarian regime into a democracy.
Taiwan NGOs Joins Peace
Group
(Taipei Times, Jan. 12, 2005) Ten non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
announced that they have joined the Global Partnership for the Prevention of
Armed Conflict (GPPAC), an international civic movement aimed at promoting
peace.
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