March—May, 2003
The 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.
July 1, 2003
The Taipei Times' bilingual section launches its Junior Times English-teaching page to help younger readers learn English.
Oct. 12, 2003
Only 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.
Oct. 16, 2003
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) vows to create a new constitution by 2006, and to implement it by 2008.
Oct. 24, 2003
Soong Mayling (宋美齡), also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek, dies in her sleep aged 105 in her New York home.
Dec. 12, 2003
The Taipei Times publishes an exclusive interview with Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮).
* Dec. 2003
Taipei Times features reporter Ian Bartholomew wins an“Outstanding Work Award" in the Second Annual Literary Translation Award.
Dec. 16, 2003
The 25th anniversary of the US switching recognition from Taiwan to China.
Feb. 07, 2004
The Taipei Times and the National Geographic Channel jointly launch an essay contest to celebrate the Mars landing.
* Feb. 28, 2004
For 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).
* March 10, 2004
The Taipei Times publishes an exclusive interview with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
March 18, 2004
The 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.
March 19, 2004
Chen 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.
March 20, 2004
Chen 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.
Mar. 20, 2004
Hits on the Taipei Times' Web site breaks 100 million. The paper gets an average of 200,000 hits per day.
May 1, 2004
The Taipei Times' bilingual section launches a “Business English” section for office workers.
May 17, 2004
The 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.
May 20, 2004
Chen 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.
June 15, 2004
The Taipei Times celebrates its fifth anniversary.
TRANSLATED BY IAN BARTHOLOMEW, WANG HSIAO-WEN, AND EDDY CHANG
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