09-12-07

中國稱台灣總統為“民族敗類” (China Calls Taiwan President a "Traitor")

中國稱台灣總統陳水扁是謀求獨立活動的“民族敗類”。中國國務院台灣事務辦公室發言人李維一星期三在北京對記者說，如果陳水扁繼續推動台灣從中國獨立的活動，那麼他將要承擔嚴重後果。

台灣已籲請以“台灣”名義加入聯合國，陳水扁也在推動明年就選民是否支援加入聯合國進行全民公投。實行自行統治的台灣的官方稱號是“中華民國”，1971年失去聯合國的席位，被北京當局取代。

1949年，內戰結束後，台灣和中國大陸分制。北京認為台灣是中國的一部份，並威脅如果台灣正式宣佈獨立，會進攻台灣。

China is calling Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian a "traitor" for promoting independence activities. The spokesman of China's Taiwan Affairs Office Li Weiyi told journalists in Beijing Wednesday that Mr. Chen will have to bear serious consequences if he continues to push for Taiwan's independence from mainland China.

Taiwan has appealed to join the United Nations under the name "Taiwan," and Mr. Chen is pushing for a public referendum next year on whether voters support membership to the world body. The self-governing island, officially known as the "Republic of China", lost its U.N. seat to Beijing in 1971.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 at the end of a civil war. Beijing, which considers the island part of China, says it will invade Taiwan if it declares formal independence.

菲律賓法庭判處埃斯特拉達終身監禁 (Philippine Court Sentences Estrada to Life in Prison)

菲律賓前總統約瑟夫.埃斯特拉達因任職期間接受賄賂和回扣的罪名被判處終身監禁。在經過6年的審判後，馬尼拉一個反腐敗法庭星期三判定埃斯特拉達“經濟侵吞”罪名成立。法庭判定他在任職期間接受數百萬美元的賄賂和來自非法賭博的款項的罪名成立。法庭判定另外一項謊報財產的罪名不成立。

埃斯特拉達說，法庭的判決具有政治動機，並表示他會對判決上訴。這項判決將自動送交菲律賓最高法院復審。現年70歲的前電影明星埃斯特拉達在1998年就任菲律賓總統，2001年在民眾抗議聲中被剝奪職權。

Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada has been sentenced to life in prison for receiving bribes and kickbacks while in office. An anti-graft court in Manila convicted Estrada of economic plunder Wednesday after a six-year trial. He was found guilty of receiving millions of dollars in bribes and funds from illegal gambling while in office. The court cleared him of a separate charge that he falsely declared his assets.

Estrada called the court's decision politically-motivated and said he will appeal the verdict. The case is also due for automatic review by the Supreme Court. The 70-year-old former movie star was president from 1998 until 2001, when he was removed from power by a popular revolt.