20120521 3pm

3PM Intro

Good afternoon. It's time for ICRT news at 3. I'm Mike Woodward.

Ma's inaugural address reaction .... #1

President Ma Ying-jeou has begun his second term in office ----- and while his reaffirming of the "one Republic of China, two areas" policy has sparked an angry reaction from members of the main opposition D-P-P -- Political scientist George Tsai with the Chinese Culture University says it is nothing new. Cai also says - while it may be difficult - Ma will be working very hard to achieve his vision for Taiwan in the coming four years. Political scientist George Tsai with the Chinese Culture University

U.S. Expert Says Economic Integration Ma's Biggest Challenge

And in a related story ... A U.S. expert says the biggest challenge for President Ma Ying-jeou in his second term is to find entry points into the process of regional economic integration. Bonnie Glaser, senior fellow of China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, is quoted as saying she believes Taiwan's economy will suffer greatly if the government does not negotiate free trade agreements with other countries. She said Taiwan is already lagging behind South Korea and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in regional economic integration. Glaser said Taiwan has made extraordinary progress in stabilizing and advancing cross-Taiwan Strait relations in the past four years, "but called it unlikely that this momentum will continue. She said for example, the initial items in the 2010 Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement between Taiwan and China were easily agreed upon, but it would require tough negotiations to add more items to the pact. She added, beyond economic matters, there is little common basis for discussion of political or military issues between Taiwan and China. (jm)

nato summit

There have been scuffles with police as protesters march through the streets of Chicago, where the NATO summit has gotten under way. AP correspondent Robert Ray is there.

yankees

The Reds dumped the Yankees in New York in a come-from-behind win. Correspondent Bill Meth reports.

weather

Taiwan weather forecast for tonight according to the Central Weather Bureau, cloudy skies island-wide with lows this evening north, center and south respectively: 21, 22 and 25. At the moment Taipei is clear and 26, Taichung clear and 30, Gauhsiung clear with haze and 30.

3PM Outro

That's ICRT News at 3. Thank you for listening. I'm Mike Woodward.