A Taiwanese business tycoon has criticized U.S. investor Warren Buffett’s decision to invest in a Chinese battery and car maker facing a lawsuit accusing it of stealing trade secrets.

Asian stock markets rose Monday, led by Taiwan, on optimism about emerging strength in the U.S. economy and easing fears about swine flu.

Asian stocks rallied Thursday as U.S. and Japanese economic data signaled the global recession was letting up, while Taiwan’s market surged after a historic agreement clearing the way for Chinese investment.

Taiwan said it had persuaded China to allow it to participate in a key U.N. body, offering a victory for President Ma Ying-jeou’s campaign to win greater international recognition for the democratic island.

Taiwan said Wednesday it had persuaded China to allow it to participate in a key U.N. body, offering a victory for President Ma Ying-jeou’s campaign to win greater international recognition for the democratic island.

Taiwan’s president says that China has offered to lift its objections to the island’s participation in the key decision-making body of the World Health Organization.

A replica of a Ming Dynasty Chinese sailing ship sank off the coast of Taiwan after it was rammed by a freighter but its sailors were rescued, relatives of Hawaii-based crew members said.

Relatives of Hawaii-based crew members of a 54-foot wooden Chinese ship say a freighter rammed and sunk the ship off the coast of Taiwan and that 11 crew members were rescued.

Taiwan and China will discuss a partial free trade agreement and sign pacts this weekend to increase economic cooperation, a senior Taiwanese negotiator said Friday.

Taiwan has reached its goal of hosting 3,000 Chinese tourists a day as ties between the two rivals continue to strengthen, the government said Sunday.