Taipei boasts a wide variety of scrumptious, regional Chinese cuisines and a few down-home specialties, all of which stem from the island's history.

This opening to world markets transformed the island into one of the world's most important trading powers.

Sink faucets and gender-coded "WC" signs appear throughout the three-storey facility, one of 12 in an island-wide chain of eateries with a toilet theme.

Ma, for his part, says he is eager to boost the island's business but has said there will be no unification during his presidency and has consistently ruled out previous offers of political talks.

But officials say that Pentagon’s defense analysts have concluded that the new F-16’s are not critical to the island’s self-defense.