China denies prefab housing formaldehyde rumor

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Southern Metropolis Daily
August 20, 2009

In response to safety concerns over prefab housing donated by mainland China to the typhoon relief effort in Taiwan, Fan Liqing, spokesperson of the Taiwanese Affairs Office, said at a news conference yesterday that the level of the toxic chemical formaldehyde in the prefab housing is not only in accordance with the mainland’s safety standards, but also within Taiwan’s standards as well as the international standard.

Fan said that the houses, which were built according to the design required by Taiwan, are able to a resist magnitude seven earthquake and a force 10 storm. Fan accused some Taiwanese politicians of “making irresponsible charges, and alienating and hurting the feelings of the people on both sides of the strait.”

Shown on the cover is Hu Jintao meeting a delegation representing Taiwanese ingenious ethnic groups. The delegation was led by Gao Jin Sumei, an actress-turned-legislator. Gao Jin is also known for her activist work: she has campaigned for the Japanese government to return the ashes of Taiwanese aboriginal soldiers who fought for Japan during WWII.

It is reported that during the meeting, Hu Jiantao praised Taiwan ethnic groups for their “persistent efforts against invaders to Taiwan and to protect the dignity of their own people”.

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