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Transgenic Trotters in Taiwanese Tussle

An international incident has arisen over the creation of glow-in-the-dark fluorescent green hogs by Chinese scientists.

An international incident has arisen over the creation of glow-in-the-dark fluorescent green hogs by Chinese scientists. While no-one is doubting the brilliance of their achievement, Taiwanese scientists are outraged by what they perceive as their mainland counterparts taking credit for techniques initially developed by the National Taiwan University's Department of Animal Science and Technology.

With diplomatic relations already strained, the announcement of the creation of pigs with glowing green snouts, trotters and tongues could not have come at a worse time. The BBC's agricultural reporter, Chris Hogg, reported in January that Taiwanese scientists had created luminescent pigs better than any produced by other countries, with even their internal organs emitting an unearthly glow. The Taiwanese see their superior glowing pigs as a symbol of national pride, and China's creation of identical (some even claim inferior) luminous pigs without acknowledging the work of Taiwanese scientists is widely perceived as an insult.

The Chinese, however are unrepentant, with Chinese authorities describing Taiwan's widely popular vice-president as "the scum of the Chinese nation". China also recently conducted a three-day live fire naval exercise in the Taiwan Straits.

Taiwanese leaders are more downbeat, with the Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian even offering to engage in dialog with the mainland to resolve the incendiary issues raised by this research. "If the Chinese leaders so wish, I am willing to invite them here to sip tea and chat", said Mr Shui-bian.

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