Taiwan

Chen Shui-bian accuses Chiang of being the main culprit in the 2.28 incident and in others that followed in which tens of thousands of civilians were killed by security forces. But what is historical revision for one is pre-electoral political propaganda for the opposition. Experts point out that young democracies must re-examine their past, something that is not allowed in Beijing.

Ying-jeou, a former mayor of Taipei, is charged with misappropriating public funds. Despite stepping down, he pledges to run in the 2008 presidential elections.

The new premises have been restructured. The museum possesses more than 650,000 selected works of art that were collected by emperors and brought to Taiwan by the nationalists in 1948-49. Videos and computers help visitors understand the exhibits better.

The Taiwanese are openly discussing the responsibilities of the late dictator in the 228 massacre and the White Terror. The Kuomintang accuses the government of trying to deny the past. President Chen reshuffles his cabinet to show who is in charge and prepare the next elections.

The government gave the Chinese president a warm welcome and announced economic exemptions for Chinese firms. But workers and the opposition greeted Hu with protests and criticism. Beijing stands accused of exploiting miners and textile workers, taking away the country’s precious copper and opening fire on workers who protest. In Sudan, business was the only topic of discussions.

Diplomatic incident spoils inauguration of Beijing-funded stadium. The Caribbean island nation broke off diplomatic relations with Taipei only in 2005. Taiwanese bank now wants repayment of money from previous loans.

After the scandal sparked by the fake research of the cloning “pioneer”, the National Bioethics Committee is drawing up a law that bans the donation of eggs for scientific research. There are still doubts about the donation of “surplus” eggs.

According to the deputy minister in the Office of the Central Leading Group on Financial and Economic Affairs, more than 50 per cent of rural protests are due to land seizures by local officials. Privatization of land is however excluded.

School history textbooks no longer have references to the mainland and Taiwan as sharing a common history. The two are presented as separate entities. In the mainland the move is seen as an attempt to foist a separatist ideology. In Taiwan itself some protest against what they see as the removal of part of the past.

Last year a record 300 billion yuan are invested. This represents 1.4 per cent of the GDP. Research excels in space and weapons technology but also medicine (AIDS, stem cell) and energy. Research quality improves in many fields and equals that of Europe and Japan.

As a great friend of the continent, China for years was able to get raw materials from Africa. Now the increasing accusations of “economic colonialism” are forcing it to seek a new role. In Sudan it will try to find a solution to the genocide in the Darfur. Elsewhere it will try aide in African countries left on the sidelines by the West.

All-China Federation of Trade Unions demands right to unionise everywhere in Guangdong, claiming it wants to protect all workers. Companies are reticent, fearing a single trade union will be under the thumb of the Communist Party since independent trade unions are banned in the People’s Republic of China.