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TAIWAN NEWS
Taiwan's ex-VP Lien to meet Chinese leader Xi
by Staff Writers
Taipei (AFP) Feb 14, 2014


Taiwanese intelligence officer charged with desertion
Taipei (AFP) Feb 14, 2014 - A Taiwanese military intelligence officer who went AWOL and unsuccessfully sought political asylum in Britain was indicted Friday on desertion charges, prosecutors said.

Yeh Mei, a 33-year-old lieutenant with the Military Intelligence Agency, had been put on Taiwan's wanted list after failing to return for duty following an overseas trip in 2012.

Yeh confessed to seeking permission from her superior for a sightseeing trip to Thailand with the intention of deserting her duties because she could not adjust to a military career, and fled to Britain via Bangkok in June 2012, prosecutors said in a statement.

The offence is punishable by a maximum five-year jail term.

According to Taiwanese media, Yeh had complained that her colleagues were hostile to her and that her repeated attempts to leave the military had been rejected by her boss.

She had claimed that she could be sentenced to death and sought political asylum with the British authorities, but the bid was rejected and she was deported last month for overstaying her visa.

When Yeh first disappeared, there was speculation in Taiwan's media that she may have joined China's spy network. Taiwan's Military Intelligence Agency has attributed Yeh's disappearance to "personal factors".

Taiwan and China have spied on each other ever since they split in 1949 at the end of a civil war. Beijing still regards the self-ruled island as part of its territory awaiting reunification.

Taiwan has been rocked by a spate of espionage scandals in recent years, reflecting the fact that intelligence gathering has continued despite warming ties with China under current Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou.

Taiwan's former vice president Lien Chan is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week in the latest high-level talks between the two sides, it was announced Friday.

Lien, an honorary chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party, will discuss issues of mutual interest with Xi during a three-day visit to Beijing beginning Monday under the invitation of the Chinese side, Lien's office said in a statement.

"Members of the delegation include people from various civilian sectors who will voice their expectations and suggestions on future cross-strait exchanges ... in the hope that China can directly understand and keep abreast of Taiwan's public opinions," it said.

The visit comes hot on the heels of the first government-to-government talks between Taiwan and China since they split 65 years ago after a civil war.

Wang Yu-chi, Taiwan's top official overseeing China policy, on Tuesday met his Chinese counterpart Zhang Zhijun in Nanjing in a symbolic yet historic move between the former bitter rivals.

Beijing still claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory awaiting reunification.

Lien became the first leader of the nationalist KMT party to visit China in 56 years when he met President Hu Jintao in 2005 to formally end hostilities with the communists. Last year, Lien met Xi in Beijing.

Ties with China have improved markedly since Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT became Taiwan's president in 2008 on a Beijing-friendly platform. He was re-elected in 2012 for a final four-year term.

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TAIWAN NEWS
China, Taiwan discussing liaison offices: visiting envoy
Nanjing, China (AFP) Feb 12, 2014
A Taiwan official visiting China said Wednesday the two sides were "actively discussing" setting up liaison offices, a day after they held their first government-to-government talks since splitting 65 years ago. Taiwan's top official overseeing China policy, Wang Yu-chi, urged more efforts to build stable relations. Observers say liaison bureaux on either side of the Taiwan Strait could serv ... read more


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