50 days after a Taiwanese citizen was detention in China under murky allegations, Taiwan's president, Ma Ying-jeow, finally spoke up, but mostly with political rhetoric. The abduction of the Falun Gong practitioner rocked Taiwanese who have growing concerns over closer relations between Taiwan and China. Ma's words aren't helping.   

Hardly a contender in most events three or four Olympics ago, China is now an Olympic powerhouse. But many Chinese are wondering: is there too much emphasis on the medals, gold in particular?  Just might be. Consider the weightlifter's statement who took silver in London: "I disgraced the motherland." Or the Chinese media that swarmed the gold medalist in shooting but completely ignored the bronze winner.    

Numbers are in and they're not good. Export growth slumped to just 1%, down from 11%. Domestic demand also shrank.