Taiwan Reinstates Ban on Some American Beef
REUTERS
Taiwan's parliament agreed to amend a food-safety law to ban certain U.S. beef imports amid widespread fears over mad cow disease on the island, potentially straining ties with the U. S.
Under the deal, minced beef, cow offal and beef from cattle older than 30 months won't be allowed for import into Taiwan, the government-backed Central News Agency reported. The move would abrogate a bilateral agreement signed by Taiwan and the U.S. two months ago, officials from the U.S. Trade Representative's office and the U.S. Agriculture Department said in a joint statement.
"The proposed amendment's provisions do not have a basis in science or fact and thus in no way serve to protect Taiwan's food supply," the statement said.
Legislators will vote on the issue early next year, Wang Jin-pyng, president of Taiwan's legislature said, after the ruling Kuomintang and opposition Democratic Progressive Party came to an in-principle agreement to reinstate the ban.
Taiwan first banned U.S. beef in December 2003, after the U.S. found its first case of mad cow disease. In late October, Taiwan said it would lift the age restrictions and reopen its markets to U.S. bone-in beef such as ribs and T-bone steaks. But the public as well as importers have questioned the decision.
***Taiwan leader vows not to seek independence
AFP
TAIPEI — Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Friday renewed his pledge not to seek formal independence for the island and to work towards improving ties with ...
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Taiwan government sets up fund to revive baseball
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan has pledged to inject T$2 billion ($60 million) of government funding into baseball to help revive a sport marred by betting scandals and embarrassing international defeats, the presidential office said on Saturday.
The government would filter out the funds over the next four years to increase the number of qualified players and offer incentives for students to take up baseball, President Ma Ying-jeou said in a statement.
"Baseball can be regarded as Taiwan's national sport, a widespread pastime with a rich tradition that has recently taken a big hit," presidential office spokesman Tony Wang said.
Taiwan were thrashed 9-0 by South Korea in the World Baseball Classic last March before slumping to a second successive loss to baseball newcomer China, who had overcome their political rivals a few months earlier at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
At home, Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau said it logged 102 illegal baseball betting cases involving 222 people in 2008 and the local Chinese Professional Baseball League has lost 45 percent of its stadium attendance over the past five years.
(Reporting by Ralph Jennings; Editing by John O'Brien)
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