Taiwans president , tsai ing wen, has told the bbc that the island has no need to declare formal independence because it already is an independent country. Ms tsai said last weeks president ial election, in which she won a second term in office, showed taiwanese people did not like being threatened by china. Now on bbc news, panorama. Britains high streets are in crisis. Walking down here i can see lots of vacant shops. And there is a very big one here. Weve lost more than a quarter of shops on our high streets injust over a decade. I havent been down the high street in a couple of months. The new government has promised its help, with investment for left behind towns, but how should that money be spent . Retail has only ever been a part of the functions of a town. So its time for a re think. I think its vital, actually,
that the high street becomes a place for community, for people to come together somewhere in the centre of the high street, there could be a key public space. Tonight
For community, for people to come together. Somewhere in the centre of the high street, there could be a key public space. Tonight on panorama, well see how, in parts of the country, things are already changing. That has to increase the footfall, that has to regenerate the area. Stockton, sitting on the river tees, in the north east of england. It has a proud heritage, but its high street has been struggling for a while. In the last five years, the town centre has lost more than 100 stores. Hi, richard. Hi, adam. This is a prime example of whats happening in the retail market. This was a former Marks Spencer unit which closed in august last year. Its been vacant since their departure. Its not a good sign, is it, if a big retailer like Marks Spencer is going, its just not working . Thats got to be disheartening. Its absolutely disheartening. Its frustrating. Its one in a long line of retailers who are consolidating right across the uk and we are victims of that. And weve got to step in
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