WAIT AND SEE: The Mainland Affairs Council vice chairman said the government would not comment unless there was a violation of state authority or law
By Joy Su
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) refrained yesterday from commenting on People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) remarks in China, or saying whether he had exceeded the boundaries of the 10-point consensus he hammered out with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) back in February.

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CHAIRMANSHIP RACE: Some pan-blue members say both the party and the nation need a man of Lien's experience and ability at this point in time
By Caroline Hong
Given the success of his recent trip to China and his status as the leader of the pan-blue camp for the past five years, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) has guaranteed himself a permanent spot in the hearts of pan-blue supporters.

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SHOWBOAT?: Critics say his antics are calculated to grab the attention of TV cameras. But Wang Shih-chien's defenders say he voices the emotions of many DPP supporters
By Jewel Huang
Although it doesn't fit his quarrelsome public image, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wang Shih-chien's (王世堅) favorite pastime is playing the violin.

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People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), emphasized his Chinese roots yesterday with a visit to the tomb of one of China's earliest emperors.

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A GIFT HORSE?: Academics are calling for a measured response in light of Beijing's recent offers of two pandas and cutting tariffs on agricultural exports from Taiwan
By Wang Hsiao-wen
Faced with China's latest "charm offensive" of canceling tariffs on fruits imported from Taiwan, government and fruit farmers alike should turn down the petty favor and eye the larger global market instead, academics urged in a forum in Taipei yesterday.

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As Mother's Day is one day away, Hsinchu's Single Party Club (SIP, 科學園區單身俱樂部) yesterday released a survey on Taiwanese mothers' concerns, showing that they most worry about their single adult children.

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The Central Election Commission (CEC) will pitch in more funds than ever on a get-out-the-voter drive for the May 14 National Assembly election in the hopes that the turnout rate will reach at least 40 percent.

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UPCOMING: The plum blossom will also be replaced with an outline of Taiwan, but the changes have nothing to do with a `name rectification' plan, says a Cabinet member
By Rich Chang
Cabinet spokesman Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said that the new national identification card with "Taiwan" (in English)on it had nothing to do with the so-called "name rectification" movement.

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THORNY ISSUES: High on the agenda of the two-day talks were North Korea's nuclear program, Myanmar's human rights abuses and recent anti-Japan protests in the region
Foreign ministers from Asian and European countries were scheduled to start their two-day annual talks yesterday evening in Japan's western Kyoto prefecture on issues such as North Korea's nuclear program and Myanmar's human rights record.

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Japan is expected to propose a deadline for North Korea to attend nuclear talks or face action at the UN Security Council, a senior official of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's political party said Thursday.

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■ Diplomacy
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