Taipei  - Taiwan's food and beverage giant the Uni-President Group plans to expand its investment in Shanghai ahead of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, a newspaper said on Friday.

Taipei - Taiwan's newly-elected President Ma Ying-jeou, under fire for speaking English to foreign guests at formal occasions, on Thursday said it is more convenient for him to speak English to foreigners.

The 57-year-old Harvard law graduate and a fluent English speaker has displayed his linguistic skills since he was sworn in on Tuesday, receiving foreign dignitaries and briefing foreign reporters in English.

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.