TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan has begun removing anti-ship barricades on its offshore island of Kinmen, the latest sign of its warming relationship with China, the semi-official Central News Agency said on Sunday.

The local government of Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, has started extracting the barricades, the Taiwan agency said, in a sign of easing political tensions between Taiwan and China.

Supporters of former president Chen Shui-bian hold placards as they protest outside Taipei District Court yesterday. PHOTO: PATRICK LIN, AFP

The Taipei District Court ruled yesterday to extend former president Chen Shui-bian’s  incarceration at the Taipei Detention Center for two more months.

“The court ruled to extend [Chen’s] detention by two months starting from July 26,” Taipei District Court spokesperson Huang Chun-ming said.

The court cited several of the reasons used in its previous detention rulings — the concern that Chen would collude with witnesses, destroy evidence or try to abscond, and because he has been charged with serious crimes that could bring him a prison term of seven years or more.

Tibetans living in Taiwan and Taiwanese gather to shout “Free Tibet” in Taipei yesterday to mark the 50th anniversary of the unsuccessful 1959 revolt against China that sent Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama into exile. PHOTO: AP

Thousands of Tibet supporters gathered in Taipei yesterday for a marathon concert organized by civic groups as part of a series of activities to commemorate the 1959 uprising in Tibet. Chanting “Free Tibet” and “Long live the Dalai Lama,” the crowd waved banners and Tibetan flags.

In unison, the crowd signed the letter “T” for Tibet with their arms after watching a short video clip of a speech by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who invoked a blessing on the performers and the future of Taiwan.