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Olympic torch will bypass Taiwan Olympic torch will bypass Taiwan
(about 4 hours later)
The Olympic torch will not pass through Taiwan because negotiators could not resolve differences with the Beijing authorities, officials have confirmed.The Olympic torch will not pass through Taiwan because negotiators could not resolve differences with the Beijing authorities, officials have confirmed.
The two sides disagreed over the route the torch should take on its way to the Beijing Games in 2008.The two sides disagreed over the route the torch should take on its way to the Beijing Games in 2008.
Taiwanese officials also objected to Chinese insistence that the use of Taiwan's flag and national anthem be limited at torch-related events.Taiwanese officials also objected to Chinese insistence that the use of Taiwan's flag and national anthem be limited at torch-related events.
China says that Taiwan is part of its territory.China says that Taiwan is part of its territory.
See planned East Asia leg of torch relay
The two countries have, however, been separately governed since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.The two countries have, however, been separately governed since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.
'Deeply regret''Deeply regret'
Beijing has planned a lengthy route for the Olympic torch. It will pass through more than 20 cities and ascend Mount Everest on its way to the Chinese capital.Beijing has planned a lengthy route for the Olympic torch. It will pass through more than 20 cities and ascend Mount Everest on its way to the Chinese capital.
In the original schedule, the torch was to arrive in Taiwan from Vietnam and then go on to Hong Kong.In the original schedule, the torch was to arrive in Taiwan from Vietnam and then go on to Hong Kong.
But Taiwanese officials had argued that this implied that Taiwan was part of China and had asked for the route to be changed.But Taiwanese officials had argued that this implied that Taiwan was part of China and had asked for the route to be changed.
Chinese officials had also asked that only songs and flags approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) be used at events related to the Olympic torch in Taiwan - ruling out use of the Taiwanese national anthem and national flag.Chinese officials had also asked that only songs and flags approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) be used at events related to the Olympic torch in Taiwan - ruling out use of the Taiwanese national anthem and national flag.
Taiwan's Sports Minister Yang Jong-her said the two sides "were not able to reach consensus over the arrangement of the relay after more than one month of discussions".Taiwan's Sports Minister Yang Jong-her said the two sides "were not able to reach consensus over the arrangement of the relay after more than one month of discussions".
"We deeply regret the result," the minister said."We deeply regret the result," the minister said.
The IOC had set 20 September as a deadline for resolving the dispute, Taiwanese officials said. The IOC had set 20 September as a deadline for resolving the dispute, Taiwanese officials said. name="map">
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