China still hopes to include Taiwan in 2008 torch relay

China is still hoping the torch relay for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will pass through Taiwan, despite current political tensions. Taiwan is considered a rebel province by China and hopes of including it on the relay looked likely to fall victim to a row which erupted last week when the island's President Chen Shui-bian scrapped a National Reunification Council.

However, China's head of the state general administration of sport told a panel discussion at the annual meeting of parliament that the mainland would "try its utmost" to include a stopover in Taiwan.

The torch will visit 28 cities around the world and 70 in China between March and August 2008 and go to the top of Mount Everest, according to plans outlined by chief organiser of the Beijing Games Liu Qi.