July 1998 \n \nAfter many years of encouragement from Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), Liberty Times founder Lin Rong-san (林榮三) establishes the English newspaper the Taipei Times. He brings in Lee Chang-kuei (李長貴) of the NTU College of \nManagement, and senior journalist Antonio Chiang (江春男) to commence preparatory work on the newspaper. \nNov. 1, 1998 \nAntony Lawrence and Laurence Eyton join the preparatory team and begin recruiting overseas editorial talent. \nMarch 1, 1999 \nTraining begins for the first batch of journalists to be brought on by the Taipei Times. \nJune 15, 1999 \nThe Taipei Times officially begins publication. Japan's Mainichi Shinbun and Kyodo News, France's Le Monde and other international media outlets devote special reports to the establishment of Taiwan's third English newspaper. \nJuly 9, 1999 \nLee Teng-hui shocks the world when he declares the “special state-to-state” policy as the basis for cross-strait relations; in the month following, the Taipei Times is extensively quoted in the international \nmedia on this issue. \nAug. 31, 1999 \nTheTaipei Times Web site goes online and begins to exert international influence. \nSep. 21, 1999 \nAn earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale hits Taiwan, killing over 2,000 people and injuring over 8,000. The Taipei Times dedicates many pages to reporting on the event. \nDec. 30 1999 \nTaiwan and Palau establish diplomatic relations. \n* Feb. 28, 2000 \nThe Taipei Times wins an Awards of Excellence and World's Best-Designed Newspaper Finalist from the Society for News Design. \nJan. 24, 2000 \nDemocratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian visits the Taipei Times office. \nMar. 18 2000 \nTaiwan has its second direct presidential election. Chen Shui-bian is elected in Taiwan's first transition of power between political parties. KMT supporters demonstrate in front of party headquarters and force Lee Teng-hui \nto step down as party chairman. The Taipei Times produces an eight-page election special report. \nMay 20, 2000 \nChen Shui-bian's inauguration. Chen makes his“Taiwan stands up”speech, emphasizing the pledge of the “five noes”as the basis of cross-strait relations. \n*June 15, 2000 \nThe Taipei Times e-commerce section begins operation. \nJuly 22, 2000 \nThe Pachang Creek flood takes four lives and the government is criticized for incompetence in rescue operations. \nSept. 15, 2000 \nThe Taipei Times produces four full pages of dedicated daily coverage throughout the Sydney Olympics. \nOct. 06, 2000 \nAntonio Chiang, co-founder and chief editor of the Taipei Times is appointed deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council by President Chen Shui-bian. \nOct. 27, 2000 \nThe Government halts work on the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant. It is criticized by both the ruling party and the opposition and impeachment of the President and Vice-President is discussed. \nOct. 31, 2000 \nA Singapore Airlines flight crashes at CKS Airport,killing 82 dead and injuring 49. \nDec. 2000 \nOver the course of the year, the TAIEX hits a high above 10,000 and, later, a low below 5,000. \nJan. 1, 2001 \n \nThe “small three links” are introduced. Direct transportation begins between Taiwan's Kinmen and Matsu and China's Fuzhou and Xiamen. \nFeb. 14, 2001 \n \nPremier Chang Chun-hisung (張俊雄) announces continuation of construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant. \n* Feb. 28, 2001 \nThe Taipei Times wins the grand prize as World's Best-Designed Newspaper in the 22nd Annual“Best of Newspaper Design”competition held by the Society for News Design (SND). \nApril 22, 2001 \n \nFormer president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) undergoes catheterization surgery in Japan. \n* May 27, 2001 \n \nTaipei Times' reporter Chiu Yu-tzu (邱育慈) wins the“Outstanding Journalist Award” granted by the National Press Council. \nJune 9, 2001 \nThe Taipei Times launches a special weekly “Newsmaker”series on prominent figures in Taiwan. \nJune 18, 2001 \n \nMacedonia severs diplomatic relation with Taiwan. \nSept. 11, 2001 \nAl-Qadr attacks the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. The US launches its anti-terrorism campaign. The Taipei Times commences a month-long special report on the aftermath of 911 tragedy. \nSep. 19, 2001 \n \nTyphoon Nari hits Taiwan and causes the most disastrous flooding in Taipei in 70 years. \n* Oct. 26, 2001 \n \nTaipei Times' reporter Monique Chu (朱明琴) wins the“Cross-strait Relation and Mainland News Reporting Prize” awarded by the Mainland Affairs Council. \n* Dec. 2001 \n \nThe Taipei Times' features reporter Ian Bartholomew and translator Ethan Harkness win the Council of Cultural Affair's “First Annual Literary Translation Award.” \nDec. 2001 \n \nThe Taipei Times features the legislative election in a series of special issues. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) gains 87 seats and becomes the biggest party in the Legislative Yuan though it falls short of an absolute majority. \nDec. 2001 \nTaiwan has suffered through a year of negative economic growth. The unemployment rate soars to a record-breaking high of 5 percent. \nJan. 1, 2002 \n \nTaiwan joins the World Trade Organization (WTO) under the name of “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu” as the group's 144th member. \n* Feb. 28, 2002 \n \nThe Taipei Times wins two Awards of Excellence in the Best of Newspaper Design competition held by the Society for News Design (SND). \nMay 25, 2002 \n \nChina Airlines flight CI-611 crashes into the sea near Penghu en route to Hong Kong. All 225 people on board are killed. \n* June 2, 2002 \n \nTaipei Times Staff Reporter Monique Chu (朱明琴) is honored with the National Press Council Foundation's (新聞媒體自律協會) Outstanding Journalist Award. \nJune 17, 2002 \n \nThe Taipei Times celebrates its 3rd anniversary, presenting its readers with a new layout — including a bilingual section entitled“Youth Central” which targets young readers. \nAug. 2002 \n \nPresident Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) attracts much international attention by claiming that there is“one country on each side” of the Taiwan Strait. \nAug. 26, 2002 \n \nTaipei Times Staff Reporter Chiu Yu-tzu (邱育慈) attends the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg and reports from inside the conference, despite China's effort to ban Taiwan journalists. \n* Aug. 30, 2002 \n \nTaipei Times Editor-in-Chief Rick Chu (朱立熙) wins the 2002 Brighter Society Journalism Award (社會光明面新聞報導獎) for his special report about a patient who suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. \nSept. 11, 2002 \n \nThe Taipei Times publishes an exclusive interview with Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮). \nDec. 7, 2002 \n \nThe Taipei Times runs a special edition on the city and county commissioner elections, as well as the mayoral elections in Taipei and Kaohsiung. \n* Feb. 28, 2003 \n \nThe Taipei Times wins four Awards of Excellence in the Best of Newspaper Design competition held by the Society for News Design (SND). \nMarch—May, 2003 \nThe Taipei Times runs a series of special reports on the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which kills more than 30 people in Taiwan. \nJuly 1, 2003 \n \nThe Taipei Times' bilingual section launches its Junior Times English-teaching page to help younger readers learn English. \nOct. 12, 2003 \nOnly two days after its National Day, Taiwan terminates diplomatic ties with Liberia after the war-torn African country decides to switch diplomatic recognition to China. \nOct. 16, 2003 \n \nPresident Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) vows to create a new constitution by 2006, and to implement it by 2008. \nOct. 24, 2003 \n \nSoong Mayling (宋美齡), also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek, dies in her sleep aged 105 in her New York home. \nDec. 12, 2003 \n \nThe Taipei Times publishes an exclusive interview with Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮). \n* Dec. 2003 \nTaipei Times features reporter Ian Bartholomew wins an“Outstanding Work Award" in the Second Annual Literary Translation Award. \nDec. 16, 2003 \n \nThe 25th anniversary of the US switching recognition from Taiwan to China. \nFeb. 07, 2004 \n \nThe Taipei Times and the National Geographic Channel jointly launch an essay contest to celebrate the Mars landing. \n* Feb. 28, 2004 \n \nFor the fifth consecutive year since its launch in 1999, the Taipei Times wins the Awards of Excellence in the Best of Newspaper Design competition held by the Society for News Design (SND). \n* March 10, 2004 \n \nThe Taipei Times publishes an exclusive interview with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). \nMarch 18, 2004 \nThe Taipei Times — along with Taiwan Heart, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and the Institute for National Development —hosts the symposium called "Implications of the presidential election and referendum for Taiwan's democracy" to discuss Taiwan's political development. \nMarch 19, 2004 \nChen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) are shot while leading a motorcade in Tainan City on the day before the presidential election. \nMarch 20, 2004 \n \nChen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) win the presidential election by 29,518 votes. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) do not accept the result and stage protests outside the Presidential Office. The Taipei Times runs a special 12-page report on the election, and frequently publishes breaking news on its Web site. \nMar. 20, 2004 \n \nHits on the Taipei Times' Web site breaks 100 million. The paper gets an average of 200,000 hits per day. \nMay 1, 2004 \n \nThe Taipei Times' bilingual section launches a “Business English” section for office workers. \nMay 17, 2004 \nThe World Health Assembly's (WHA) annual meeting takes place in Geneva. Taipei TimesStaff Reporter Joy Su is one of the two Taiwanese reporter allowed to attend the meeting. \nMay 20, 2004 \n \nChen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) take office, as supporters of the blue camp stage protests outside the inauguration ceremony. \nJune 15, 2004 \n \nThe Taipei Times celebrates its fifth anniversary. \nTRANSLATED BY IAN BARTHOLOMEW, WANG HSIAO-WEN, AND EDDY CHANG
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