Taiwan has withdrawn permits allowing journalists from China's official Xinhua news agency and People's Daily  newspaper to report from Taipei.

Joseph Wu, chairman of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, said Sunday the decision was part of an overall review of exchanges with China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province.

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's government announced its intention to conduct such a policy review after Beijing adopted a new anti-secession law approving the use of force against Taiwan if the island declares independence.

All journalists from the mainland had been barred from Taipei for more than five decades until late 2000, when Taiwan issued a limited number of permits to Chinese reporters.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.