Taiwan

When does the yo-yo -- the most analog toy this side of jacks-- play as a dynamic and contemporary diversion? When it's a diabolo -- the oversize, spool-shaped approach that evolved from 12th century Chinese yo-yos. Diabolists -- who actually have nothing to do with the worship of Satan -- live like pop sensations in Asia. Or at least they get adulation and sport the sorts of shiny, zany outfits that we stateside associate with stardom. "There are annual competitions. Every elementary school has a team," says Thomas Wu. "A lot of children do it, but only the good ones get on the team.

Nationalist Party leader Ma Ying-jeou took office as Taiwan's president today, promising to seek greater economic cooperation with rival China and ease decades of tensions. The inauguration of Ma, 57, represents a clear break from the eight-year presidency of Chen Shui-bian, whose confrontational pro-independence policies often led to friction with Beijing -- and with the U.S., Taiwan's most important foreign partner. Vice President Vincent Siew was sworn in shortly after Ma, together with Premier Liu Chao-shiuan and his Cabinet.

Negotiators from Taiwan and China opened their first formal talks in almost a decade today in Beijing, aiming to forge an agreement on expanded charter flights as a step toward restoring transportation links severed 59 years ago. Taiwan's delegation also planned to discuss what additional help the island could provide for China's earthquake relief efforts. The talks are scheduled to run through Friday.

Former Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian resigned from the opposition party Friday after Swiss authorities requested help in an investigation of suspected money laundering involving his family members. Taiwan's Justice Ministry said in a statement released late Thursday that its Swiss counterpart wanted information on Chen's son, Chen Chih-chung, and daughter-in-law, Huang Jui-ching. The island's authorities said they were cooperating with the inquiry.

The Air Force and Army have disciplined 17 senior officers, including the three-star general in charge of logistics, for poor oversight in connection with the mistaken shipment to Taiwan of fuses for nuclear warheads. Saying he could not ignore the "breaches of trust that occurred on their watch," acting Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley laid out Thursday what in some cases were career-ending punishments for six Air Force generals, ranging in rank from one to three stars, and nine colonels.

China has canceled a senior military visit to Washington and shelved other military and diplomatic contacts to protest an announced $6.5-billion U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, Pentagon and State Department officials said Monday. "The Chinese reaction is unfortunate and results in missed opportunities," said Marine Corps Maj. Stewart Upton, a Defense Department spokesman, in a statement.

Wang Yung-ching, 91, a businessman who built his Formosa Plastics Group into Taiwan's biggest and most profitable manufacturing conglomerate, died Wednesday during a business trip to the United States, the firm said in a brief statement. Taipei TV stations reported that Wang died of cardiac arrest in a New Jersey hospital. A farmer's son with only an elementary school education, Wang set up a rice store with his two brothers in his early 20s. He then established the Formosa Plastics Corp.

Tens of thousands of protesters in Taipei, Taiwan, marched Saturday against an upcoming visit by a senior Chinese envoy, fearful that China is trying to assert control over the island. The demonstration, organized by Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party, presents a challenge to President Ma Ying-jeou, who has made improved trade, political and cultural relations a cornerstone of his administration. Protesters, some wearing "Defend Taiwan" or "Stop Selling Taiwan!"

A Taiwanese court ordered the detention of former President Chen Shui-bian on corruption charges, marking an ignominious fall for the man who incensed China and roiled the U.S. with his contentious pro-independence policies. The court sent Chen to Tucheng Jail, the suburban Taipei facility where as a dissident leader 21 years ago he served eight months for defaming an official of the ruling Nationalist Party during the waning days of Taiwan's martial law regime.

A jetliner departed Taiwan for China to open a new era of direct air and shipping services with the mainland. The flight from Taipei to Shanghai came after an improvement in relations since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in Taiwan in May and moved to reverse pro-independence policies.