Taiwan

A veteran democracy activist was indicted for organizing large anti-corruption protests against President Chen Shui-bian last year that surrounded his presidential offices, the dissident's spokesman said. Shih Ming-teh and 15 others were indicted by the Taipei Public Prosecutors Office, Chang Fu-chung said. Chang said he also was indicted, as were Taipei city government official Emile Sheng and two opposition legislators.

The Navy admiral poised to become the U.S. military's top officer reiterated Tuesday that the U.S. would not support a push for independence by Taiwan, but added that Washington would continue to urge the government in Taipei to acquire defensive weapons to hedge against an attack by Beijing. At the end of a five-day trip to China, Adm. Michael G.

Lead singer Freddy Lim carefully drew black and red veins over his white-caked face while his mates in the heavy metal band adjusted their combat boots and studded leather gear minutes before they took the stage at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip. Chris Chou, a 53-year-old Taiwanese American real estate agent, eagerly awaited the start of the show. He was drawn less by the music than the message, which helped him lure friends to this and other shows by the band.

More than 100,000 Taiwanese rallied to demand the United Nations accept the island as a member, backing President Chen Shui-bian's pro-independence policies and defying threats from rival China. The rally, the most important step yet in an 18-month government-led campaign to emphasize Taiwan's separateness from the mainland, was called to back a planned referendum on U.N. membership under the name Taiwan, rather than the official title of the Republic of China.

Taiwanese prosecutors indicted the vice president and the chairman of the ruling party on graft charges. They did not charge the party's presidential candidate or his running mate. The decision clears the way for Frank Hsieh to lead the Democratic Progressive Party's ticket in 2008. A prosecutorial spokesman said staffers for Vice President Annette Lu and party chairman Yu Shyi-kun collected receipts from unidentified entities and used them to claim reimbursement.

At least four people were killed and at least two were missing after Typhoon Krosa slammed into Taiwan, but the storm weakened to a tropical storm as it moved toward mainland China today, officials said. At its peak, Krosa caused a power outage that affected about 2 million homes in Taiwan. On the mainland, more than 500,000 tourists were evacuated from the southeast coast, the New China News Agency said.

Ang Lee's new spy thriller, "Lust, Caution," has been withdrawn as Taiwan's entry for the best foreign film category at next year's Oscars. "An insufficient number of Taiwanese participated in the production of the film," said Oscar spokeswoman Teni Melidonian, violating a rule that requires foreign countries to certify that their locals "exercised artistic control" over their submission.

Taiwan's refusal to allow a Chinese judge on the World Trade Organization's top legal panel is paralyzing the work of the global trade body, risking a crisis that could have far-reaching ramifications for disputes affecting billions of dollars of commerce, trade officials said Friday.

Jade pendants and earrings from archaeological sites throughout the southwestern Pacific originated in Taiwan, suggesting the existence of a sophisticated regional trade network much earlier than previously believed.

Does she own jade jewelry worth hundreds of thousands of dollars or doesn't she? Only her propaganda team knows for sure. The mysterious jewelry tale about Zhang Beili, wife of the Chinese premier, surfaced last month when two Taiwanese television stations ran a story about her interest in bling.