Taipei  - Two of Taiwan's 23 diplomatic allies have asked Taiwan's new President Ma Ying-jeou for aid, catching him by surprise the day after his inauguration, a newspaper said on Thursday.

Taipei  - Taiwan's new Defence Minister Chen Chao-min Wednesday said he plans to reduce the number of the island's military personnel from the current 270,000 to
200,000.

Taipei  - Taiwan's parliament on Wednesday voted to allow the exchange of China's currency to facilitate a government plan to open the island for holiday visits by Chinese tourists, officials said.

Taipei  - Taiwan's Evergreen Marine Corp confirmed Wednesday that it would change the registration of 11 of its container ships from Britain to Singapore if Britain changes its tonnage tax rules.

"If it is implemented, we will let our 11 ships which fly the UK flag to register in Singapore," an Evergreen Marine press officer said.

"But our operation in the UK will not change," she said. "Evergreen's subsidiary, Evergreen Marine UK, and our shipping agent in the UK will continue their operations as before."

Chang Jung-fa - chairman of Evergreen Marine, one of the world's leading container shipping lines - protested the proposed change to Britain's tonnage tax rules in a May

Singapore  - An open verdict was reached in the death of a Singapore soldier on duty in Taiwan after an out-of-control Taiwanese fighter jet smashed into the base killing the pilot, co-pilot and tw

Taipei  - Taiwan judicial authorities started a corruption probe against departing Taiwanese leader Chen Shui-bian Tuesday on the very day he ended his second four-year term as president.