Taiwan calls on China to renounce use of force
March 14, 2006Taiwan called on rival China on Tuesday to renounce the use of force against the island, saying Beijing should terminate its controversial anti-secession law and reopen peace talks with Taiwan so as to solve decades-old disputes. Also responding to China's latest criticism over President Chen Shui-bian's move to scrap a symbolic 15-year-old council tasked with promoting unification with the mainland, the policy-making Mainland Affairs Council urged Chinese leaders to carry out necessary political reforms.
China premier links improved ties with Japan to shrine row
March 14, 2006Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Tuesday that tense Sino-Japanese relations cannot change if Japanese leaders continue visiting Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine but said the Japanese people are not to blame. At a press conference, Wen also blasted Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian for recently terminating the functions of a council for promoting unification, and warned that China, which vows to attack the self-ruled island if it declares independence, is ''preparing to deal with any kind of developments.''
Japan says China's conciliatory steps acceptable if talks resumed
March 14, 2006Japan showed positive reaction to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's proposal Tuesday that the two countries take three steps to improve relations, but maintained that China should first move to resume the stalled top-level dialogue. ''We can take Premier Wen Jiabao's three-point proposal in a forward-looking manner,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said at a press conference. ''But it is important in any case to hold talks by meeting directly when there is a problem.''
Rebel-called traffic ban shuts down highways in Nepal
March 14, 2006A rebel-called ban on the movement of people and goods on key highways across Nepal began Tuesday, with few vehicles seen on roads leading to the capital, police and government officials said. On Monday, Home Minister Kamal Thapa said the government had made adequate security arrangements along the highways to render the ban ineffective.