World IN BRIEF : CHINA : Beijing Plans Missile Tests Near Taiwan

China announced it will hold missile tests just off the island of Taiwan, apparently part of military exercises intended to intimidate the island before presidential elections this month. The New China News Agency said the Chinese army will conduct surface-to-surface missile tests for a week beginning Friday. It gave the latitudes and longitudes for two areas in which the tests will be held--one a line running down the narrow strait separating Taiwan from China and the second an area off the coast of southern Fujian and Guangdong provinces.