Taiwan says won't host torch, decision final

Taiwan said yesterday the Olympic torch would not pass through the island on its route to the Beijing Games in 2008 because officials could not reach a deal with China, despite six months of talks.

The decision was final because international Olympics officials wanted Taiwan and China to reach a verdict by Sept. 20, sports authorities in Taipei said.

China has claimed self-ruled Taiwan since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and pledged to bring the democratic island's 23 million people back under its rule, by force if necessary.

Taiwan sports authorities blamed a number of sticking points in a broad consensus reached between the two sides since the last round of talks began on August 11, Thomas Tsai, president of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, told reporters.

He said Beijing insisted the island follow IOC rules that limit the use of Taiwan's flag and anthem at Olympic events, including a torch stopover. The separate anthem and flag symbolise Taiwan's estrangement from China.