TAIPEI - The main route of Alishan Forest Railway, a popular tourist attraction in Taiwan, will be closed for another three months due to safety concerns, the island's railway authority announced.The 106-year-old railway which runs up to and through the mountain resort of Alishan in Chiayi County had four train derailments from Jan 18 to Feb 25, and the main route was immediately suspended after the fourth accident pending an investigation.At a press conference held Monday, the authority announced that the main route between Chiayi station and Shizilu station will be suspended from service for another three months, but the branch lines will continue to operate.The investigation team recommended the route remain closed until issues, including rotting sleepers and old trains, are resolved.A batch of newly designed trains are being tested for potential dangers, said investigation team.Apart from the derailments on Alishan Forest Railway, Taiwan's railway network has experienced 16 accidents so far this year. rubber arm bandsfidget spinner braceletwellies and wristbandswide rubber bandssilicone keychain
XI'AN - The Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief Wednesday called on both sides across the Taiwan Straits to work together for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and peaceful reunification of the motherland.Liu Jieyi, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, met Hung Hsiu-chu, former Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman, and Yok Mu-ming, chairman of Taiwan's New Party, respectively in the northwestern city of Xi'an.Hung and Yok were in Xi'an to attend a ceremony paying homage to Huangdi, also known as the Yellow Emperor, regarded as one common ancestor for all Chinese.At the meetings, Liu expressed appreciation for the effort made by Taiwan's organizations and politicians, including Hung and Yok, to uphold the one-China principle and oppose "Taiwan independence."He expressed the hope that people from all walks of life on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits to work together for the greater national interest.
