Taiwan

Each year for nearly a decade, rejection of Taiwan's application to participate in the World Health Assembly has been treated as an annual ritual. This year, the international community should review the issue more thoroughly. The World Health Organization was established with lofty ideals. Like the International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, it should transcend national borders and political conflicts to offer assistance to all those who are suffering from illness and promote health for all of humankind.

WOLONG NATURE RESERVE, China -- Taiwan and China quibble about everything from diplomatic slights and hidden meanings to ancient history and obscure definitions. So perhaps it's not surprising that they'd argue over two chubby animals that bite each other's ears and have trouble procreating. China's latest weapon in its increasingly effective charm offensive against Taiwan is an offer of giant pandas. Who would think of turning down two lovable animals that zoos around the world could only dream about?

BEIJING - A top Taiwanese politician arrived in China yesterday for a six-day visit amid hope for warmer relations between the longtime foes. The head of the island's ruling party will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao during a groundbreaking visit that follows the May 20 inauguration of a new Taiwanese president, Ma Ying-jeou, who is eager to fulfill a campaign pledge of improving ties. For China, the visit provides an opportunity ahead of the Olympic Games in August to project itself as a superpower committed to world peace.

THE SOUND and the fury of the latest crisis over Taiwan, prompted by Beijing's recent "white paper" on the issue and Taiwan's election of a nominally pro-independence president, reveal how far Beijing, Taipei and Washington are from a mutual understanding of the fundamental issues at stake across the Taiwan Strait. All three sides are talking past each other, and none of them is addressing the core problem. Beijing, for example, is demanding negotiations on the basis of "one China," while Taipei is invoking self-determination and Washington is calling for peaceful resolution.

WASHINGTON -- For 10 or more years the United States has tilted heavily toward China and left Taiwan in the cold. The Bush administration recognizes this must change. The United States naturally had reason to want a positive relationship with China. After all, China has a potentially huge market for the United States and an appetite for our high technology. Hundreds, if not thousands, of U.S. firms have opened business ties to China, and barriers to trade such as export controls have been reduced to a minimum.

WASHINGTON -- President Clinton has decided to grant a visa to the president of Taiwan, senior administration officials said yesterday. The action would break a 16-year-old policy and risk retaliation by China, which vehemently opposes the move on the ground that the United States has no official relations with Taiwan.The officials said Mr. Clinton had decided to risk a run-in with China by admitting President Lee Teng-hui because of intense pressure from the Republican-dominated Congress.

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- On pirate radio stations, in Taoist temples and at wedding banquets, Taiwan's enthusiastic rush toward democracy has reached a fever pitch as the island prepares for a series of unprecedented regional elections today.At first glance, the elections don't sound like much to get worked up about: Two big cities are to elect a mayor and city council while the rest of the country chooses a governor and provincial assembly. It could be just a vote about trash collection or highways.

WASHINGTON -- Bowing to congressional pressure, President Clinton opened the way yesterday for visits to the United States by top Taiwanese officials.Risking Chinese anger, the president reversed a 16-year policy and will allow Taiwan's president to visit the United States in early June to deliver a speech at Cornell University, his alma mater, the State Department announced yesterday.The trip is certain to attract press attention, although the State Department calls it a "private" visit.

County Council Chairman C. Vernon Gray has no intention of leaving politics to set up an import-export business, but he'll be in Taiwan next month, hoping to drum up interest in Howard County products.The invitation came through the National Association of Counties. Mr. Gray serves as a member of the association's task force on international trade.Because of a trade imbalance, "Taiwan is interested in buying additional U.S. goods," Larry E. Naake, the association's executive director, told Mr. Gray in a letter inviting the 3rd District Democrat to make the trip.

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The foreign minister of Taiwan and two other top officials resigned yesterday over a botched attempt to win diplomatic recognition from Papua New Guinea, a scandal that has stirred public outrage against the outgoing government just two weeks before it is to step down. Taipei was embarrassed by the public disclosure that about $30 million, which had been intended for Papua New Guinea in exchange for its switching diplomatic allegiance from Beijing, had disappeared. While the resignations had little practical impact - the entire government leaves May 20 when President-elect Ma Ying-jeou is inaugurated - they underscore the depth of the scandal, the most severe during President Chen Shui-bian's eight years in office.