Taiwan and China will establish semi-official tourism offices in each other’s territories early next year, an official said today, in a landmark move underscoring their dramatically improved relations.

THE first shipments of foreign aid arrived yesterday as Taiwan struggled to reach more than 1,000 people still stranded a week after its deadliest typhoon in half a century.

FLOODS and mudslides unleashed by Typhoon Morakot last weekend have killed about 500 people on the island, Taiwan’s president has said.

PRESSURE is mounting on Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to speed up operations to rescue hundreds of people buried or stranded on remote mountain villages in the aftermath of typhoon Morakot.

Taiwan's president has said that China is adopting "new pragmatism and new sophistication" in its approach to the island.

A Chinese cruise ship with 1,600 tourists arrived in Taiwan, boosting prospects for expanded economic ties between the rivals as the first such vessel to do so.

Taiwan’s president said a Chinese law codifying the use of military force against the island is “unnecessary” and “unfeasible” in view of warming ties between the two rivals.

A PAIR of pandas left China yesterday on a long- awaited goodwill journey to their new home in Taiwan, in the latest move symbolising the warming ties between the two countries.

China said today it was willing to help Taiwan boost its economy if it required assistance to weather the world economic slowdown.

As protesters gathered in the streets, Taiwan’s leader met the highest-ranking Communist Chinese official to ever visit the island.

THE most senior Chinese official to visit Taiwan since the end of a civil war 60 years ago said yesterday that historic talks to take place this week are the only way to build trust between the arch rivals.

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

Taiwan’s opposition candidate cruised to victory in the presidential election today, promising to expand economic ties with China while protecting the island from being swallowed up politically by its giant communist neighbour.

TAIWAN’S ruling Democratic Progressive Party passed a resolution yesterday asserting the island’s separate identity from rival China and calling for a referendum on Taiwan’s sovereignty.

A court in Taiwan today ordered that all ballot boxes be sealed but 10,000 protesters demanded a recount of Chen Shui-bian’s re-election amid claims it was marred by voting irregularities and a mysterious shooting that wounded the president.

THE world’s tallest skyscraper is nearing completion in Taipei after workmen yesterday finished installed the pinnacle on the 1,676ft Taipei 101 building.

TRADE ministers in Asia-Pacific countries are to endorse an emergency SARS recovery plan, as China reported no deaths for the first time in seven weeks.