<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'> TAIPEI -- The Houston Rockets' basketball star Yao Ming was given the green light Thursday to visit Taiwan next month, an official said.</p> The Chinese-born NBA star is due to visit from September 7-10, reports said, after Chen Ming-tong, the chairman of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), said the trip had been authorized.</p> There had been speculation the visit would be barred, since Taiwan and China have testy relations. Beijing regards the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.</div></p> LINK</p>
