PANDA DIPLOMACY: Beijing offered Taiwan deals on endangered bears, fruit and tourism, but government officials were quick to react to the offer with skepticism
By Joy Su
An offer from Beijing to lift travel bans on Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan and to cut tariffs and restrictions on the export of Taiwanese fruit to China was met yesterday with suspicion in Taipei, as cross-strait authorities pointed to possible ulterior motives.

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The Council of Agriculture (COA) will act according to the law and professionally assess without regard to political considerations whether Taiwan can adequately care for the pandas that China has offered as gifts to the Taiwanese people.

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Taiwan will accept China's gift of two giant pandas and concessions on fruit imports and tourism as long as there are no political strings attached, Cabinet Spokesman Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday.

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By Jimmy Chuang
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said that the opposition parties should work with the governing party as though they were playing baseball when he addressed Kiribati's parliament yesterday afternoon.

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By Jewel Huang
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday criticized Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan's (連戰) trip as a "Journey of Failure," since Lien failed to highlight Taiwan's democracy and the existence of the Republic of China (ROC), and did not convey Taiwan's opposition to the "Anti-Secession" Law and China's military threats.

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DIPLOMATIC BATTLE: A Taiwanese official said at a seminar that the president of Panama has consulted with the US about switching recognition to Beijing
By Melody Chen
National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Parris Chang (張旭成) revealed in Washington yesterday that Panamanian President Martin Torrijos Espino sought the US' consultation on Panama's plan of switching diplomatic allegiance from Taipei to Beijing.

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BETTER THAN PANDAS: The greens said the most meaningful thing Lien could do to help Taiwan would be to put an end to his party's obstruction
By Ko Shu-ling
Frustrated by the stalemate in the legislature, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative caucus yesterday called on Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) to help break through the impasse after he returns from China.

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The European Union's executive arm voiced hope yesterday that talks between Chinese authorities and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) would lead to broader discussions.

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The number of Taiwan's unmarried women under 30 has increased dramatically over the past two decades, the Directorate General of the Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said yesterday.

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FACTFINDING MISSION: A Taiwanese delegation got a peek at the latest in technology trends on a visit to the nerve center of Texas Instruments
A Taiwan delegation on a fact-finding visit to Dallas, Texas, on Monday visited the headquarters of Texas Instruments, Inc., a US information technology giant.

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ACCESSIBILITY: The number of disabled people in Taiwan is expected to rise, as is the number of travelers with disabilities. More needs to be done to help them get around
By Mo Yan-chih
When Jacky Hsu visited Edinburgh, Scotland, he explored the city on handicapped-accessible tour buses. In Japan, he traveled with few difficulties, with the assistance of subway workers and detailed tour information.

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With the approach of the annual "Taiwanese American Heritage Week," which falls in the second week of this month, Taiwanese-Americans in the greater New York area cannot wait to put on shows demonstrating the lively Taiwanese spirit.

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■ Crime
Man nabbed for smuggling
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