2007
1998 , 1999 , Jan - Jun 2000 , Jul - Dec 2000 , 2001 ; 2002 ; 2003-2004 ; 2005-2006
Taiwan Closes Chiang
Kai-shek Mausoleum Pending Reburial
(Associated Press, Dec. 24, 2007) Authorities closed the mausoleum of Taiwan's late
leader Chiang Kai-shek as part of the ruling party's vigorous campaign to
diminish the legacy of the late leader. President Chen Shui-bian
told a political rally that closing the mausoleum would save taxpayers'
money.
British Spy Chief Warns of
China Web Threat
(AFP, Dec. 1, 2007) The head of Britain's
domestic security service has warned business leaders that China has been carrying out
state-sponsored espionage against vital parts of the economy. The
director-general of MI5, Jonathan Evans, wrote to 300 chief executives and
security heads at banks, accountancy and legal firms, warning them they were
under attack from "Chinese state organizations" via the Internet,
The Times said.
Frustrated Taiwanese Rage
against Rising Prices
(Associated Press, Nov. 16, 2007) Inflation - fanned by soaring prices for
fuel and other commodities - has become a hot political issue in Taiwan as the
island moves towards legislative elections in January next year and a
presidential poll two months later. The situation has become so bad that a
number of disgruntled consumers have taken their complaints directly to
President Chen Shui-bian.
It's 'Time to Act' on
Economy, Government Told
(Taiwan News, Nov. 6,
2007) "Time to act!" said European Chamber of Commerce Taipei in its
annual position papers, suggesting Taiwan's economic development had been
stagnant with little progress especially in terms of of
cross-strait economic relations. The ECCT suggests some remedies as a "roadmap" for bringing back
Taiwan's
prosperity.
China Says Hackers Also
Target Its Computers
(Straits Times, Oct. 31,
2007) Following the recent bad press over Chinese military hackers attacking
computer systems abroad, a Chinese newspaper has hit back with a lengthy
account of foreign threats to China's own computer networks.
Ma Criticizes Chen's 'Dollar
Diplomacy'
(Taiwan News, Aug. 26,
2007) Opposition Kuomintang presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou
denounced dollar diplomacy as a bad strategy, referring to President Chen Shui-bian's promise of monetary aid to allies in Central
America, and called for a comprehensive international diplomatic strategy.
Foreign Aid Projects Not
Dollar Diplomacy: Chen
(China Post, Aug. 24, 2007) An official of the Presidential Office has
defended the US$305 million in direct loans to diplomatic ally Honduras,
stressing it is humanitarian aid and not dollar diplomacy. President Chen Shui-bian signed an 11-point communiqué with President
Manuel Zelaya Rosales of Honduras,
pledging a US$300 million loan to help build a hydropower electric project,
plus an additional US$5 million loan to build a computer center for primary
and middle schools in Honduras.
Canada Backs Taiwan's Push
for Role in WHO
(Global and Mail, Aug. 8, 2007) The Harper government has quietly provided a
high-level boost to Taiwan's
campaign for a role in the World Health Organization in a move that some
experts say will place another burr under its relationship with China.
Isolated Taiwan Seeks to Woo
Central America
(Reuters, Aug. 8, 2007) Taiwan
President Chen Shui-bian is to visit Central America to shore up
diplomatic ties as China pressures countries in the region
to abandon an island Beijing claims
as its own.
Shih Ming-teh Indicted for
Violating Parade Law
(Taiwan News, Aug. 4, 2007) A former chairman of the ruling Democratic
Progressive Party and 15 other pro-democracy activists were indicted for
violating the Assembly and Parade law when they led a massive street protest
last October aimed at forcing President Chen Shui-bian
to resign over his alleged links to a spate of corruption scandals.
Chen Vows to Persist on UN Bid
(Taipei Times, July 25, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian
said that only the UN Security Council and General Assembly had the right to
consider Taiwan's
bid for UN membership, adding that the nation would not be deterred by the UN
secretary-general's rejection of the application.
UN Rejects Taiwan
Application for Entry
(AP, July 24, 2007) The United Nations has rejected Taiwan's latest application to become a member
of the world body, citing the organization's adherence to the "one China" policy and its recognition of the
Chinese government in Beijing.
President Requests Military
Performance on National Day
(China Post, July 24, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian's
plan to stage the first military show in 16 years on Oct. 10 as part of
Double Ten National Day celebrations has drawn mixed response.
Taiwan Diplomats Get Little Recognition
(Associated Press, July 12, 2007) Taiwan
is a major U.S.
trading partner and a like-minded liberal democracy. Taiwanese diplomats
working in the U.S.
capital are constrained by internal U.S. guidelines laid out in 1979.
Many in Congress champion a lifting of the restrictions. But the Bush administration
is wary of offending China.
Taiwan Court Increases
Sentence for President's Son-in-Law
(AFP, June 27, 2007) Taiwan's High Court rejected an appeal by President Chen Shui-bian's
son-in-law against his insider trading conviction and increased his sentence
to seven years' imprisonment.
Taiwan Shuns Dollar
Diplomacy, MOFA Says
(Taiwan News, June 9, 2007) Costa Rica
president's criticism of Taiwan
as being "stingy" proves that Taiwan does not engage in dollar
diplomacy, said the Ministry of Foreign Affair.
Taiwan Tight-Fisted with
Aid: Costa Rica's Arias
(AFP, June 8, 2007) Costa Rican President Oscar Arias berated Taiwanese aid
as too little, one day after breaking ties with the island to establish
diplomatic relations with China.
Costa Rica Breaks Relations
with Taiwan
(AP, June 7, 2007) President Oscar Arias announced that Costa Rica has broken diplomatic ties with Taiwan and established relations with China,
delivering a blow to Asian island's fragile international standing. Arias
said Costa Rica needed to
strengthen ties with China
to attract foreign investment.
Obama Warns China over
'Hostile Action'
(Taipei Times, May 26, 2007) US Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama, in his first
public foreign policy comment on cross-strait relations since entering the
presidential fray, outlined a mainstream policy warning China against hostile
military action against Taiwan while demanding that both sides retain the
"status quo."
DPP Win by Wide Margin Could
Force US' Hand: Yu
(Taipei Times, May 21, 2007) If the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) can
win next year's presidential election by an overwhelming margin, the US will
be compelled to review its "one China" policy, DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun said.
WHO Members Reject Taiwan's
Bid to Join
(AP, May 15, 2007) The World Health Organization (WHO) rejected Taiwan's bid
for membership on Monday after Chinese officials accused the island of trying
to strengthen its claim to sovereignty.
U.S. Snub Not a Sign of
Worsening Ties, MOFA Says
(Taiwan News, May 11, 2007) The U.S. government's refusal to meet with a Taiwan
delegation earlier this week should not be viewed as a deterioration of
U.S.-Taiwan ties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Taiwan Protests at WHO
Rejection of Membership Bid
(AFP, Apr. 30, 2007) Taiwan
President Chen Shui-bian protested at the World
Health Organization’s rejection of the island's latest bid for membership.
Chen wrote to WHO but the WHO secretariat insisted
the island was not a sovereign state and not eligible to apply for membership
of the international body.
US 'Not in Favor' of WHA Vote
(Taipei Times, Apr 21, 2007) A US State Department report said that Taiwan's
effort to force a vote on obtaining observer status in the health
organization could be counterproductive.
Former Taiwan President
Loses Libel Battle
(AFP, Apr. 20, 2007) Former President Lee Teng-hui has been ordered to pay substantial damages
and issue a public apology to a political rival after committing libel, a
court official said.
Bid as 'Taiwan' Not Contrary
to 'Four Noes': Chen
(CNA, Apr. 18, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian
stressed that the government's application to join the World Health
Organization (WHO) as a full member under the name of "Taiwan"
is not contrary to his previous "four noes"
promise.
China Launches Fifth
Satellite in Its Global Positioning System
(AFP, Apr. 14, 2007) China launched the fifth satellite in its ambitious
"Compass" global satellite positioning system Saturday, the latest
effort in the nation's fast developing space program, state media reported.
US Will Not Back WHO
Membership Bid
(Taipei Times, Apr. 14, 2007) The US Department of State urged Taiwan to
focus on meaningful participation in the WHO. The official also issued a
prepared statement saying that the US
strongly supports Taiwan's
meaningful participation in organizations that require no statehood.
'Taiwan' Bids for WHO Membership
(Taipei Times, Apr. 13, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian
has sent a letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) requesting to join
the international body as a full member under the name "Taiwan,"
officials said.
Defense Minister Expelled
from KMT
(CP, Mar. 10, 2007) Defense Minister Lee Jye was
expelled from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), which claimed he had slandered
late President Chiang Kai-shek and had undermined the neutrality of the
military.
Washington Urged to Learn
about 228
(CAN, Feb. 24, 2007) Randy Schriver urged
Washington to acquaint itself well with the history of the 228 Incident of 1947 in Taiwan, saying he
believes that doing so will be helpful for the U.S. government in forming its
Taiwan policy.
Senior US Official Dashes
FTA Hopes
(Taipei Times, Feb. 8, 2007) A senior US trade official said that Taiwan would have to gain strong support from
the US
business sector and Congress before an FTA could ever be considered.
Taiwan Asks US to Use
Security Law as Model for Free Trade Pact
(AFP, Feb. 7, 2007) Taiwan
has asked the United States
to use a special law that commits American defense to Taipei as a framework for forging a free
trade agreement between the two economies.
Ortega Affirms
Taiwan-Nicaragua Ties
(Taipei Times, Jan. 11, 2007) Nicaraguan president-elect Daniel Ortega
promised to continue diplomatic relations with Taiwan,
amid speculation that the Central American ally might switch allegiance to China.
Chen Keeps a Low Profile in US
(Taipei Times, Jan. 10, 2007) President Chen Shui-bian
made a transit stop in San Francisco en route
to Nicaragua.
When asked how he felt about being on US territory again, Chen told the press
corps on the plane that he felt great.
China Protests Taiwan
President's U.S. Stopover
(Reuters, Jan. 9, 2007) China accused Taiwan's president of trying to damage
Sino-U.S. ties with a stopover in California on the way to Central America
and criticized Washington for giving the brief visit permission.
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