04-22-08

中国谴责巴黎市议会嘉奖达赖喇嘛 (China Denounces Paris Council for Honoring Dalai Lama )

中国谴责巴黎市议会决定授予西藏流亡精神领袖达赖喇嘛荣誉市民，称这是侮辱。中国外交部发言人姜瑜星期二说，巴黎市的这项举动是对包括藏族人民在内的全中国人民进行严重挑衅，可能损害两国关系。

奥运火炬在巴黎传递期间发生的支持西藏的抗议引起中国人的愤怒反应以及在中国对法国货和法国公司的抵制。

法国总统萨尔科齐写信给在巴黎火炬接力期间受到支持西藏的抗议者冲击的坐轮椅的中国运动员，显然是为了平息中国人的愤怒。 　

在萨尔科齐星期一致函金晶几个小时后，巴黎市议会宣布授予达赖喇嘛和被监禁的异议人士胡佳为荣誉市民。

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.

台湾模拟受到中国攻击 (Taiwan Simulates Attack by China)

台湾军方星期二开始军事演练，模拟遭到中国大陆的进攻。每年一度的玉山兵棋推演假象中国入侵台湾时的各种危机情形。中国认为台湾是有待统一的省份，并威胁如果台湾宣布独立就动用军事力量。

在即将离职的陈水扁总统任内，台北和北京的关系变得紧张。陈水扁领导的民进党主张从中国正式独立。

很多人希望，在当选总统马英九任期内，两岸政治关系将会解冻。马英九将在5月20号就职。马英九今年3月打出通过跟大陆更紧密联系而改善贸易的竞选纲领，以很大差距赢得选举。

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.