02-12-08

台灣評估美間諜案損害程度 (Taiwan Assessing Damage From US Espionage Case)

台灣國防部說，正在試圖確定美國一個中國間諜案涉案人員是否向中國提供有關台灣軍事防禦系統的情報。台灣國防部星期二在一份聲明中說，這起間諜案很重大。國防部補充說，台灣已經成立特別小組來評估在美國的間諜可能造成的損害。

美國司法部星期一說，正在指控國防部一名僱員和兩名其他人士向中國出售敏感情報。一些情報與美國對臺軍售有關。法庭文件顯示，被告人曾經談論過有關提升台灣軍隊指揮與通訊能力的一項重大項目。

任何有關台灣軍事行動的情報對中國來說都將很重要的。中國威脅，如果台灣有任何邁向永久獨立的舉動，中國就會攻擊台灣這個自治的島嶼。

Taiwan's defense ministry says it is trying to determine whether individuals involved in a Chinese espionage case in the United States provided China with information on the island's military defense systems. In a statement Tuesday, the ministry said the case was of great importance, adding that Taiwan has set up a task force to assess the possible damage spies in the United States may have caused. 

On Monday, the U.S. Justice Department said it was charging a Defense Department employee and two others with selling sensitive information to China. Some of that information was related to U.S. military sales to Taiwan. Court documents show the accused had conversations about a major project to upgrade the island's command and communications capabilities for its troops. 

Any insight into Taiwan's military operations would be significant for China, which has threatened to attack the self-governed island if it makes any permanent moves toward independence.

聯合國糧食主管稱全球最貧困者買不起食品 (UN Food Chief Says World's Poorest Cannot Afford Food)

聯合國世界糧食計劃署負責人約瑟特.施林說，很多世界上最貧困的人都由於飛漲的物價而買不起糧食。施林在接受美聯社採訪時說，惡劣的天氣、縮短的收穫期、升高的原油價格以及用糧食製作生物燃料，都導致食品開銷超出貧困人口承受能力。用她的話說，“他們完全被高物價排擠出食品市場”。

她說，食品供應必須要調整，這樣糧食才能不間斷地運到世界上最易受影響的地區。施林說，她希望看到國際社會向需要加強農業基礎的地區投資。

世界糧食計劃署目前正對該機構認為最急需幫助的30個國家進行評估，其中包括阿富汗和幾個非洲國家。

Josette Sheeran, the head of the United Nations World Food Program says that many of the world's poorest people cannot buy food because of soaring prices. Josette Sheeran said in an interview with the Associated Press that severe weather, shorter harvests, higher oil prices and the use of food to produce biofuel are driving food costs out of the reach of the poor. In her words, "they are simply being priced out of the food markets." 

She said that food supplies have to be adjusted, so they will get to the most vulnerable parts of the world without disruptions. Sheeran said she would like to see the international community make investments in regions that need a stronger agricultural foundation.

The World Food Program is currently doing an assessment of 30 nations it has deemed most needy, including Afghanistan and several African nations.