04-22-08

中國譴責巴黎市議會嘉獎達賴喇嘛 (China Denounces Paris Council for Honoring Dalai Lama )

中國譴責巴黎市議會決定授予西藏流亡精神領袖達賴喇嘛榮譽市民，稱這是侮辱。中國外交部發言人姜瑜星期二說，巴黎市的這項舉動是對包括藏族人民在內的全中國人民進行嚴重挑釁，可能損害兩國關係。

奧運火炬在巴黎傳遞期間發生的支援西藏的抗議引起中國人的憤怒反應以及在中國對法國貨和法國公司的抵制。

法國總統薩爾科齊寫信給在巴黎火炬接力期間受到支援西藏的抗議者衝擊的坐輪椅的中國運動員，顯然是為了平息中國人的憤怒。 　

在薩爾科齊星期一致函金晶幾個小時後，巴黎市議會宣佈授予達賴喇嘛和被監禁的異議人士胡佳為榮譽市民。

China has denounced a decision by the Paris city council to bestow honorary citizenship on Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, calling it an insult. In Beijing Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the gesture in Paris was a grave provocation to all of China's people, including Tibetans, that could damage the two countries' relations.

Pro-Tibet protests during the Olympic torch relay in Paris have triggered an angry response from the Chinese and a boycott of French goods and companies in China.

Apparently aiming to calm Chinese anger, French President Nicolas Sarkozy sent a letter to a wheelchair-bound Chinese athlete who was targeted by a pro-Tibet protester during the Paris relay.

Shortly after Mr. Sarkozy sent his letter to Jin Jing on Monday, the Paris city council declared honorary citizenship for the Dalai Lama and an imprisoned Chinese dissident Hu Jia.

台灣模擬受到中國攻擊 (Taiwan Simulates Attack by China)

台灣軍方星期二開始軍事演練，模擬遭到中國大陸的進攻。每年一度的玉山兵棋推演假像中國入侵台灣時的各種危機情形。中國認為台灣是有待統一的省份，並威脅如果台灣宣佈獨立就動用軍事力量。

在即將離職的陳水扁總統任內，台北和北京的關係變得緊張。陳水扁領導的民進黨主張從中國正式獨立。

很多人希望，在當選總統馬英九任期內，兩岸政治關係將會解凍。馬英九將在5月20號就職。馬英九今年3月打出通過跟大陸更緊密聯繫而改善貿易的競選綱領，以很大差距贏得選舉。

Taiwan's military launched an exercise Tuesday, simulating an invasion by mainland China. The annual Yushan exercise is held to simulate crisis scenarios in the event of Chinese aggression. China considers Taiwan to be a rogue province and has threatened to use military force if the island declares independence.

Relations between Taipei and Beijing have been tense under the administration of outgoing Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, whose Democratic Progressive Party favors formal independence from China.

Many hope political relations will thaw under President Elect Ma Ying-jeou, who takes office on May 20th. He won elections by a wide margin in March with a platform of improving trade through closer ties with the mainland.