Taiwanese Representative Chien-Jen Chen Taipei and Beijing: The Great Wall of China by Larry Luxner Imagine a fervently pro-American nation that prides itself on its democracy, human rights, free trade and economic prosperity, yet is denied an embassy in Washington, D.C., and sees U.N. membership as a nearly impossible dream. Such is the peculiar fate of the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan, Americaís eighth-largest trading partner and the worldís third-largest exporter of information technology products. Last year, Taiwanís 22.4 million people spent nearly as much on U.S. products as did its archrival, the Peopleís Republic of China (PRC), with 1.3 billion inhabitants. ìThe PRC has tried hard to undercut our position in the international community,î says Chien-Jen Chen, Taiwanís top diplomat in the United States. ìTheyíve tried to isolate us and block us from joining international organizations or participating in international activities. But we donít want to be isolated or sidelined.î...more... Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs Paula J. Dobriansky Democracy, Good Governance Necessary For Sustainable Development, Diplomat Says by John Shaw Paula J. Dobriansky is fond of quoting Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill. But she has recently also taken to quoting the Roman poet Horace, who admonished his contemporaries in the first century B.C. that their ìown safety is at stake when your neighborís wall is ablaze.î Dobriansky, the undersecretary of state for global affairs, has been trying to put out a lot of fires from her post at Foggy Bottom in Washington. But she is also seeking to plant some seeds as the Bush administrationís ke y diplomat on a wide range of global issues....more... Diplomats Weigh Cost, Image When Purchasing a Vehicle by K.J. Ferguson Stand on the sidewalk near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Sheridan Circle in Northwest Washington, D.C., on any morning during rush hour, and youíre assured of seeing not one, but many diplomatic license tags as the traffic rushes past....more... BMW 330xi vs. Cadillac CTS

Culture Section Hotels Section Liberal Trade Laws, Changing Policy Creating New Dawn for Vietnamís Economy by Sean OíDriscoll Ask many Americans what first comes to their minds when they hear the word Vietnam and the results are not surprising: the Vietnam War, poor villages and a tightly controlled economy. Itís a perception that the modern Vietnam is struggling to overcome. As Vietnamese business people repeatedly stress to the media, nobody can diminish the suffering of the Vietnam War, but those trying to forge economic links between Vietnam and the United States are desperate to overcome its legacy....more... Icelandís Ambassador Has Country Buzzing With Possible Return to Politics by Gail Scott REYKJAVIK, IcelandóBeing in Iceland with Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson and Bryndis Schram is a cross between traveling with the leading candidate in a presidential campaign and the entourage of a hot celebrity couple. Everywhereóon the street and in the shops, in fancy restaurants and on the pieróeveryone wants to shake hands with Icelandís most popular political couple. Reporters call Kross Holl, their ìsummer hutî less than a half-hour drive from Reykjavik, on a daily basis, hoping to snag a hot quote from this eloquent political pro....more... Many Claims of Herbal Remedies Remain Scientifically Unproven by Gina Shaw When I feel the first signs of a cold coming onóa slight difficulty in swallowing, a sense that my throat is getting just a tiny bit scratchyóI quickly take a couple of capsules of echinacea...more...