21.  The policy shifts, such as allowing Taiwanese officials to meet in U.S. government buildings, are minor compared with re-entering the United Nations.

22.  To irritate China, it assigns an ambassador to Tibet and ends the travel ban on Taiwanese officials.

23.  Until last year, the United States discouraged even private visits by Taiwanese officials for fear of irritating China.

24.  Perry flew in from Taipei where he exchanged views on regional security with top Taiwanese officials.

25.  A delegation of Taiwanese officials departed for China Saturday for more negotiations on disputes that have dogged relations between the rival governments.

26.  A senior Taiwanese official said the Chinese response came at too low an official level to be significant.

27.  A Singapore Airlines jetliner bound for Los Angeles crashed on takeoff in a storm Tuesday night and slammed into a plane on the runway, a Taiwanese official said.

28.  A Singapore Airlines jetliner bound for Los Angeles crashed Tuesday night after taking off in a storm, a Taiwanese official said.

29.  A Singapore Airlines jetliner bound for Los Angeles crashed on takeoff in a storm Tuesday night and slammed into another plane on the runway, a Taiwanese official said.

30.  A paroled Chinese hijacker attacked a Taiwanese official on a chartered plane taking him and eight other hijackers to be repatriated to China, officials said Tuesday.