At a time when the rise of China and other economic challenges are posing questions about how Taiwan can best assure its continued prosperity, the holding of the second annual Taiwan Business Alliance conference this month by the Ministry of Economic Affairs was a positive step in identifying areas of high potential for further economic development. It also signaled to both domestic and international companies that they can enjoy significant advantages by working closely together to tap these new business opportunities.

CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ON NATIONAL DAY SPEECH
COLIN POWELL'S CHOICE OF WORDS CAUSES ALARM
CHINESE SORTIES RAISE MILITARY TENSIONS

DOMESTIC NEWS
COURT RULES AGAINST PAN-BLUE SUIT
MEDIA'S COVERAGE OF TYPHOONS CAN BE FATAL
TAIWAN'S NUCLEAR EXPERIMENTS

INTERNATIONAL
CHARGES FLY ON LATIN AMERICAN BRIBERY
KOREAN EX-PRESIDENT AND TOKYO GOVERNOR VISIT

BUSINESS
FINE LEVIED OVER JORDAN VISIT

In four key areas, the past half-year has brought some significant strides in resolving important issues of concern for AmCham and its committees.

This year has brought vigorous economic growth, based largely on export performance. The prognosis is that 2005 will be another solid year, but with GDP expanding at a more moderate pace as the international economy slows down a bit. Domestic private consumption, particularly in the service sector, is being looked to as the main growth engine for the year ahead.