21.   Powell mentioned Taiwan only in passing, expressing hope that China and Taiwan can expand trade ties once they gain membership in the World trade Organization.

22.   Poland expects to become a member of NATO by the end of the century and to be one of the first former Soviet bloc countries to gain EU membership.

23.   A senior Central Bank official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it would be very difficult for Taiwan to gain IMF membership because of objections from China.

24.   Australia said Tuesday it was disappointed that it was taking so long for China to gain membership of the World Trade Organization.

25.   Both leading parties favor joining the EU, but differ in their approach to gaining membership.

26.   Burma, Cambodia and Laos are expected to gain full membership this year.

27.   But China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, and it was considered highly unlikely that Taiwan would be able to gain WTO membership ahead of China.

28.   But approval of the measure will also remove one of the stumbling blocks Switzerland has faced in its efforts to gain EU membership.

29.   But with Taiwan about to attempt, once again, to gain membership in the United Nations, and with China opposed, each U.N. vote counts.

30.   But they apparently will swallow them if this helps them gain membership.