Last weekend's election in Taiwan booted out the ruling Nationalist Party, and sparked new fears that China might invade Taiwan. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll analyze the touchy subject of Taiwan's independence. Also, the legacy of Mao. And a remarkable story of survival during the Cultural Revolution.

Ed Friedman is a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin with special expertise in China. He tells Judith Strasser about the political background of the recent presidential election in Taiwan and speculates on the possible future repercussions. Also, Jim Fleming talks with Philip Short who's written the definitive biography of Mae Zedong. It's called "Mao: A Life." Short says Mao wanted people to be free to think as long as they thought what he wanted them to think, and that Mao was politically adept and completely ruthless.

Da Chen was a child during the Cultural Revolution. He tells Steve Paulson that he was persecuted for coming from a former land-owning family and survived by becoming a tough guy who hung out with hooligans. They became his family and loved the stories he read them. Eventually, Da Chen made it to America. His memoir is called "Colors of the Mountain."

Karl Meyer and Shareen Brysac are the authors of "Tournament of Shadows: The Great Game and the Race for Empire in Central Asia." They tell Steve Paulson about some of the colorful characters - a veterinarian, a surgeon and some spiritualists - who played a role in the area during the 19th century, and describe what it's like to travel there today.

Distribution dates:

• week of 03/26/2000 - hour 1