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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

December

• YEARENDER: CHINA / TAIWAN VOA 20 Dec 2001-- The year 2001 began with ships from Taiwan making the first legal crossing to China in more than 50 years. But the symbolic progress signified by that event did not lead to further momentum in relations between Beijing and Taipei

November

• U-S/TAIWAN SUBS VOA 28 Nov 2001-- Defense officials now concede a U-S offer earlier this year to sell diesel submarines to Taiwan may never come to fruition.

October

September

• Text: Resolution Calls For Peaceful Settlement of Taiwan Issue (H. Con. Res. 221 introduced September 6) (810) Washington File 12 September 2001 -- The future of Taiwan should be settled peacefully, and democratically, with the express consent of the Taiwanese people, according to a proposed resolution introduced into the House of Representatives September 6.
• CHINA-TAIWAN OFFICE VOA 9/11/2001 -- Taiwan's Nationalist Party, the Kuomintang or K-M-T, says it is considering opening an office in mainland China for the first time in more than 50 years. But as V-O-A Correspondent Leta Hong Fincher reports, Beijing is keeping quiet about the move.
• CHINA / TAIWAN / APEC VOA 9-7-01 -- China and Taiwan held high level talks Friday for the first time since Taiwan's recent offer to drop barriers to investment on the mainland. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports from the Chinese city of Suzhou where the finance ministers from both sides said they had good discussions, but announced no breakthroughs.

August

• CHINA / TAIWAN TRADE VOA 8/31/01 -- Taiwan is about to change its policy on restricting trade and investment with mainland China. Businesses have welcomed the decision to lift current barriers. But analysts say the economic benefits are likely to be limited, and the political impact may be limited, too.
• CHINA / TAIWAN TRADE VOA 8-29-01 -- China has both praise and criticism for rival Taiwan's recent proposal to expand commercial ties with the mainland. An editorial in the official press calls the changes "positive" but complains that Taiwan did not address the key question of political reunification of the two sides.
• TAIWAN/CHINA/TRADE VOA 08/27/2001 -- Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian says he fully supports a proposed set of history-making economic reforms that could significantly bolster investment and trade with Taiwan's main political rival, China. The move is being prompted by Taiwan's sputtering economy.
• TAIWAN / POLITICS VOA 08/15/01 -- Taiwan's largest opposition party has expelled 11 of its members after they announced their intention to run as legislative candidates under a new political party.
• TAIWAN / CHINA INVESTMENT VOA 8/14/2001 -- Taiwan's slumping economy is causing the Taipei government to seriously consider a proposal to remove limits on how much a Taiwan-based company can invest in mainland China. The move could pave the way for politically significant talks to restore direct transport, commercial and postal links, which have been cut off for more than five decades.
• TAIWAN/POL VOA 08/12/01 -- Taiwan's former president, Lee Teng-hui, addressed a convention inaugurating Taiwan's newest political party Sunday. Lee's open backing of the new group is of major concern to Taiwan's established political parties vying for seats in the year-end legislative election.
• TAIWAN/U-N VOA 08/09/01 -- Taiwan has launched its ninth annual campaign to join the United Nations. Taipei is showcasing its recent conciliatory moves to Beijing in its latest attempt for inclusion in the world body.
• BIDEN / TAIWAN VOA 8-6-01 -- The chairman of the U-S Senate Foreign Relations Committee says engagement with China -- not confrontation -- is the way to solve disputes between Washington and Beijing. Senator Joseph Biden made the comments (Monday) in Taipei at the beginning of an Asian tour that includes meetings with top officials of Taiwan, China, and South Korea. The Democratic Senator's approach contrasts sharply with that of President Bush.

July

• TAIWAN/NATIONALISTS VOA 07/29/01 -- Taiwan's largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, or K-M-T, opened its party congress today (Sunday) ahead of a crucial year-end election for Taiwan's legislature.The event is designed to convey unity amid threats of a possible split.
• U-S TAIWAN MILITARY VOA 7/19/01 -- U-S and Taiwanese military officials are holding talks in California. But the Pentagon is declining to provide any details.
• TAIWAN / NATIONALISTS VOA 7/10/2001 -- Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomingtang, is ready to propose that Taiwan create a confederation with China. The proposal is described as the most specific outline the party has ever submitted about reuniting the island with the communist mainland. The confederation idea is getting a much better reception from Taiwanese voters than from Beijing.

June

May

April

• Taiwan Urged To Say `No' To U.S. Sale of Kidd-Class Destroyers, CNA, 25 April 2001 -- Legislator Lee Ching-hua of the opposition People First Party (PFP) called for the Republic of China government Wednesday to say "no" to the United States on its offer to sell Taiwan four Kidd-class destroyers.
• U.S.-China: Taiwan Arms Latest Source Of Bilateral Tension Office of Research, U.S. Department of State April 25, 2001 -- The Bush administration's decision to sell Taiwan much of the modern weaponry it wanted in order to present a credible military deterrent to Beijing was seen by the world's press as further straining an already tense bilateral relationship.
• State Department Noon Briefing - China/Taiwan, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 25 April 2001 -- Q: Phil, thank you. The Chinese Vice Minister, Foreign Minister, had the Ambassador in, and obviously complained about the arms package for Taiwan, said it would harm relations.
• U-S/Taiwan Subs, Voice of America, 24 April 2001 -- A key element in this year's U-S arms sale to Taiwan is the promise of submarines to bolster the island's defenses.
• Pentagon Spokesman's Briefing - China/Taiwan, Voice of America, 24 April 2001 -- Q: Craig, is the U.S.-Taiwan meeting now over at the NDU [National Defense University]? Could you tell us if the full U.S. offer was presented and what the tone of the meeting was? And what incentive does Taiwan have to buy Kidd class destroyers if they have the prospect of buying Aegis within a year or two?
• US / Taiwan Arms Sales, Voice of America, 18 April 2001 -- The United States next week (Apr. 24th) is expected to disclose what new military equipment it is willing to sell Taiwan to enhance the island's defenses.
• DoD News Briefing - Taiwan Weapons Sales, U.S. Department of Defense, 18 April 2001 -- Q: How will this incident affect the Pentagon's recommendation as for what types of defensive weapons the United States should sell to Taiwan?
• Taiwan - Interagency Process On Arms Sales, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, 18 April 2001 -- QUESTION: Is there a date set for Secretary Powell to send a recommendation to the White House regarding the Taiwan arms issue?
• Arms sales to Taiwan would likely prompt response from China's military, By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes, 14 April 2001 -- If Washington approves a controversial package of arms sales to Taiwan later this month, China is likely to retaliate by flexing its growing military muscle.
• Taiwan/U-S/China, Voice of America, 13 April 2001 -- Taiwanese officials are expressing satisfaction at the easing of tensions between China and the United States since Beijing released the crew of a crippled U-S spy plane.
• U.S. Senator Urges Sales of Requested Weapons To Taiwan, CNA, 01 April 2001 -- A U.S. senator has urged the Bush administration to sell all the weapons systems that Taiwan has requested, stressing that increasing the preparedness of Taiwan's defense forces "will decrease the chances that the United States will need to become involved in a conflict in the Taiwan Straits, or that such a conflict will occur in the first place."
• U.S. Navy Recommends Selling Aegis Destroyers To Taiwan: N.Y. Times, CNA, 01 April 2001 -- ) "Taiwan needs a significant infusion of new weapons, including a sophisticated ship-borne radar system for Aegis-class Destroyers", the New York Times quoted a U.S. naval confidential review as reporting Sunday.

March

• U.S. Congressman Calls For U.S. Missile Protection of Taiwan, CNA, 31 March 2001 -- Rep. David Vitter (R-La.) has introduced a resolution requiring the United States to establish a policy to provide Taiwan and other allies with protection against possible ballistic missile attack.
• Taiwan's Security Hinges On `Substantial Alliance' With U.S.: Expert, CNA, 31 March 2001 -- A local political observer suggested Saturday that Taiwan enhance its relations with the United States as the island's security hinges largely on its "substantial alliance" with the superpower.
• ORBITAL WINS $56 MILLION SATELLITE CONTRACT Orbital Sciences Corp. 16 Mar 2001 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that the National Space Program Office (NSPO) of Taiwan, Republic of China, has awarded the company a $56 million contract for the Republic of China Satellite (ROCSAT-3)/Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) program.

February

• China / Taiwan, Voice of America, 01 March 2001 -- China's government is cautioning the United States that proposed arms sales to Taiwan could undermine relations between Beijing and Washington - endangering the entire Asia Pacific region and putting billions of dollars of U-S investment at risk.
• U.S. Navy Reportedly Planning To Deploy Submarines In Guam, CNA, 11 February 2001 -- The Washington Times has reported that the U.S. Pentagon has been gradually making moves to increase its military force in locations near mainland China in order to be better prepared in case military conflict were to break out in the Taiwan Strait.
• Defense Ministry Mum On Possible U.S. Sales of Aegis-Class Frigates, CNA, 06 February 2001 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) declined Tuesday to make any comment on foreign wire service reports that the United States is likely to sell Aegis-class missile frigates to Taiwan to ensure peace and security in the Taiwan Strait.
• Powell Says U.S. Obliged To Help Taiwan Maintain Defense Capability, CNA, 05 February 2001 -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday that the United States has an obligation to help Taiwan maintain an adequate level of defense capability so that it can defend itself against any military threats.

January

• President Chen Pitches For U.S. Sale of Aegis-Class Frigates, CNA, 21 January 2001 -- President Chen Shui-bian has written to new U.S. President George W. Bush asking him to allow the sale of Aegis-class frigates to the Republic of China to help safeguard peace and security in the Taiwan Strait, sources said Saturday.
• U-S / Taiwan, Voice of America, 03 January 2001 -- The United States supports the sale to Taiwan of four powerful but now decommissioned destroyers to bolster the island's defenses.