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 | Dancers wearing traditional Chinese marriage gowns perform during Taiwan's National Day celebrations, Monday, Oct. 10, 2005, in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei, Taiwan. During the parade, Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian denounced China for refusing to pursue democracy and peace and pledged to keep up the island's defenses against its historic rival. The national day marks the 1911 revolution on the Chinese mainland to topple China's last dynasty and establish a republic, which moved its seat of government to Taiwan in 1949 after Mao Zedong's communists forces took over the mainland. click to open  |  | Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian (R) shakes hands with Guatemala's President Oscar Berger after signing a communique at the presidential office in Taipei, August 16, 2005. Guatemala is one of only 26 countries with official diplomatic ties with Taiwan instead of China. click to open |  | Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, right, toasts with Guatemalan President Oscar Berger after signing a communique at the presidential office in Taipei, Tuesday, Aug 16, 2005. Guatemala is one of only 26 countries with official diplomatic ties with Taiwan instead of China. click to open |  | Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, right, meets with Guatemalan President Oscar Berger at the presidential office in Taipei, Tuesday, Aug 16, 2005. Guatemala is one of only 26 countries with official diplomatic ties with Taiwan instead of China. click to open |  | Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian toasts during the opening ceremony of the Democratic Pacific Union, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2005, in Taipei, Taiwan. The international organization aims at bolstering relations with countries in Asia and Latin America. Taiwan expects the founding of the union will help in its rivalry with China, which tries to prevent the island from joining international organizations. click to open |  | Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian toasts during the opening ceremony of the Democratic Pacific Union, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2005, in Taipei, Taiwan. The international organization aims at bolstering relations with countries in Asia and Latin America. Taiwan expects the founding of the union will help in its rivalry with China, which tries to prevent the island from joining international organizations. click to open |  | Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian speaks at the inauguration in Taipei of an international body called the Democratic Pacific Union Aug 14 2005. Chen rejected the theory of China's 'peaceful rise', saying its rapid arms buildup threatens not only his island but the whole region. click to open |  | Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian, right, welcomes Guatemala's President Oscar Berger Perdomo before the opening ceremony of the Democratic Pacific Union, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2005, in Taipei, Taiwan. Perdomo is in Taiwan for the inauguration of the Democratic Pacific Union, an international organization aiming at bolstering relations with countries in Asia and Latin America. Taiwan expects the founding of the union will help in its rivalry with China, which tries to prevent the island from joining international organizations. China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949, but Beijing still claims sovereignty over the self-ruled, democratic island, saying it should not be allowed to have diplomatic relations. click to open |  | Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian, right, sits next to Guatemala's President Oscar Berger Perdomo during the opening ceremony of the Democratic Pacific Union, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2005, in Taipei, Taiwan. Perdomo is in Taiwan for the inauguration of the Democratic Pacific Union, an international organization aiming at bolstering relations with countries in Asia and Latin America. Taiwan expects the founding of the union will help in its rivalry with China, which tries to prevent the island from joining international organizations. China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949, but Beijing still claims sovereignty over the self-ruled, democratic island, saying it should not be allowed to have diplomatic relations. click to open |
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