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Prime Minister John Howard says massive economic development in China will bring about a "tectonic shift" in that country's political system. Mr Howard has made the comments at the beginning of an official tour of Ireland, while answering questions from students at a Dublin university. Mr Howard was asked if he was depressed by the level of political change in China. While trumpeting Australia's trade links with the government in Beijing, Mr Howard said he did not believe economic liberalisation would continue on its own. "Nor do I myself believe that for ever a country can economically liberalise, whilst remaining...

TAIPEI: An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale rattled Taiwan on Tuesday and shook buildings in the capital, the Central Weather Bureau said. The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 9.16 am (0116 GMT) was about 63 km east of Hualien on the east coast, at a depth of about 12 km, the bureau said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Earthquakes occur frequently in Taiwan, which lies on a seismically active stretch of the Pacific basin. One of Taiwan's worst-recorded quakes occurred in September 1999. Measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale, it killed more...

Taiwan gains supersonic missiles 12apr05TAIWAN plans to mass produce supersonic anti-ship missiles to beef up the island's defence capabilities against China, following successful test firings of the weaponry, a report said yesterday. The Defence Ministry next year would set aside a budget for mass production of the Hsiung Feng III missile, which is expected to make its debut during the 2006 "Han Kuang 22" exercise, the Chinese-language China Times said. Given its speed and capability of flying at low altitude, the missile would be difficult to intercept, it said. The Hsiung Feng III has a range of up to 150km....