■Cross-strait ties
China lambastes US support
China criticized the US for backing a bid by Taiwan to participate in the WHO and for continuing military cooperation with Taipei. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said China "firmly opposes" the US supporting Taiwan's bid to be an observer at the World Health Assembly. Taiwan was unqualified to join the WHO, the official Xinhua news agency quoted ministry spokesman Kong Quan (孔泉) as saying. Kong also said China was firmly opposed to military cooper-ation between Taiwan and the US after a Pentagon official visited Taipei to discuss anti-missile coopera-tion and weapons sales. These would "send the wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces" he said and he urged the US "to clearly recognize the damage it could cause on such a sensitive issue."
■ Agriculture
War won't affect food supply
The impending war in Iraq will have no effect on the nation's food supplies, a Council of Agriculture spokesman said yesterday. With a total of 550,000 tonnes of food stored by the authorities and 300,000 tonnes in circulation in the market, the spokesman said there will be no food shortage at least until the end of October. After the harvest of the spring rice crop in May, food supplies will be sufficient to last through the middle of next year, he added. He said the council will release food stores, if necessary, to stabilize food prices.
■ Society
Madame Chiang turns 105
The KMT National Women's League yesterday celebrated the 105th birthday of Soong Mayling (蔣宋美齡), the former first lady once known as the "most powerful and most beautiful woman in China." Madam Chiang has lived in seclusion in New York since 1975, after her husband Chiang Kai-shek (蔣中正) died. League vice chairwoman Yen Chuo-yun (辜嚴倬雲), who just returned from a visit to Madame Chiang, said the former first lady is in good health and is very concerned about Tai-wan. Madame Chiang was born on Feb. 12, 1898.
■ Cross-strait ties
Fisherwoman treated
A Chinese fisherwoman was treated for head injuries on Matsu. Dong Shuhuei (董書惠), 32, was injured in a Chinese fishing vessel in waters off Tungyin. The Chinese vessel then sailed into Tungyin harbor to seek assistance. Dong was rushed to a military hospital for examination. Lienchiang County Magistrate Chen Shue-sheng (陳雪生) sent a helicopter to take Dong to Matsu Hospital, and then transferred her to Lienchiang Hospital for observation. Chen went to see Dung yesterday and was told that she was in stable condition. Doctors later escorted Dong to the fishing vessel which took her back to China.
■ Diplomacy
Teaching materials donated
The government donated a batch of Chinese teaching materials to the Catholic University in Salta Province, Argentina. Speaking at the ceremony, Taiwan's representative to Argentina Wang Yu-yuan (王豫元), expressed the hope that through the use of the teaching material, academic and trade exchanges between the two countries will be strengthened, while students gain a better understanding of Taiwan. The donation ceremony was presided over by Patricio Colombo Murua, president of the Catholic University, and witnessed by Martin Barrandeguy, director of the university's research institute of orientalism.
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