Taiwan, an island that China's ruling Communist Party has long sought to bring into its fold under the same "one country, two systems" arrangement it has for Hong Kong, has thrown its support behind Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

A pact that will reduce tariffs on hundreds of products traded between Taiwan and China took effect, a significant step for the Taiwanese president’s efforts to forge closer trade ties with Beijing.

Taiwan’s incoming premier says a former ally of the outgoing government will take on the key post of implementing policy towards China.

China today said it had charged a reporter for a Singapore newspaper with spying for rival Taiwan, four months after detaining him.

Taiwan announced 12 new deaths from SARS today – taking the world toll to more than 700 – as Toronto geared up for a re-emergence of the disease with fears that 33 people might have it.