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 BEIJING (AP) - China is ready to hold the Olympic torch relay without Taiwan, meaning the 85,000-mile route — billed as the largest on record — may bypass the breakaway island with which China has disputed sovereignty for almost 60 years.
Taiwan suddenly backed out of the ballyhooed relay on Thursday, embarrassing Beijing officials who had announced the route just two hours before in a lavish TV ceremony. The 130-day journey will cross five continents and attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Next year's high-profile prelude to the 2008 Olympics was an opportunity for an upbeat public-relations event, a chance for China to showcase its diverse regions to the world. Instead, the relay could uncover sharp political divisions, particularly in areas like Taiwan and Tibet.
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