Monthly Archives: April 2016

Ministry demands return of fishermen

NO LEGAL BASIS:Taiwan does not recognize Japan’s claim of a 200 nautical mile economic zone around Okinotorishima atoll, which Tokyo declared unilaterally

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 26, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged the Japanese government to Japan_Coast_Guard_PL51_Hida_2immediately release a Taiwanese fishing boat seized in disputed waters near the Okinotori atoll in the Pacific Ocean earlier yesterday.

The ministry said the Taiwanese fishing boat, Tung Sheng Chi No. 16, was chased by a Japan Coast Guard vessel on Sunday evening about 150 nautical miles (277.8km) east-southeast of the atoll and about 1,000 nautical miles east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan proper’s southernmost tip.

Okinotorishima is a Japanese atoll that lies about halfway between Guam and Taiwan, and 1,700km from Tokyo. Beijing has long rejected Japan’s claim that the atoll is an island, describing it as a rock formation and saying that the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around the atoll should not be recognized.

The ministry said Japan Coast Guard personnel boarded the Tung Sheng Chi No. 16 for inspection, before seizing the boat and arresting its crew.     [FULL  STORY]

1 dead, 26 injured in tour bus crash

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/25
By: Kuan Jui-ping and Y.F. Low

Taipei, April 25 (CNA) A bus carrying a group of Chinese tourists 201604250015t0001from Jiangsu Province flipped onto its side in Miaoli County Monday, leaving one dead and 26 others injured, police said.

The accident occurred on a section of the No. 1 freeway between Touwu and Miaoli, when the tourists were on their way to the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

The tour bus driver died after being thrown out of the vehicle in the accident, while 25 passengers and the driver of a gravel truck that was hit by the bus were injured, police said.      [FULL  STORY]

Jeremy Lin’s Hornets snap playoff skid

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 25, 2016
By: AFP, LOS ANGELES

Jeremy Lin scored 18 points to lead a balanced Charlotte attack on Saturday as the Hornets

Jeremy Lin of the Charlotte Hornets, top, drives to the basket against the Miami Heat in the second half of Game 3 of their NBA playoff series in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday. Photo: AP

Jeremy Lin of the Charlotte Hornets, top, drives to the basket against the Miami Heat in the second half of Game 3 of their NBA playoff series in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday. Photo: AP

beat the Miami Heat 96-80 for their first NBA playoff victory in 14 years.

After two deflating defeats in Miami, the Hornets fed off their home crowd to trim the deficit in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series to 2-1.

In the late game on Saturday, Damian Lillard scored a game-high 32 points as the Portland Trail Blazers beat Los Angeles 96-88 to cut the Clippers lead in the series to 2-1.

The Hornets led by five points at halftime and held the Heat scoreless for almost seven minutes in an 18-0 scoring run in the third quarter that built their lead to 71-53.

The cushion grew to as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter as six Charlotte players finished in double figures.

It was a complete reversal from the Heat’s 106-80 home win in Game 1 and a 115-103 win in Game 2.     [FULL  STORY]

Brew Crew rout reigning champions to claim title

MOST VALUABLE:Patrick O’Bryant had 21 points and 23 rebounds as Taiwan Beer ended Pure Youth’s four-year grip on the title to claim the SBL Finals series 4-2

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 25, 2016
By: Paul Huang / Contributing reporter

Holding the four-time defending champions to 26 points in a dismal first half, second seeds

Taiwan Beer’s Liu Cheng, top, goes to the basket against Pure Youth Construction’s Ke Chi-hao in Game 6 of the SBL Finals at the Sinjhuang Sports Complex in New Taipei City yesterday. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

Taiwan Beer’s Liu Cheng, top, goes to the basket against Pure Youth Construction’s Ke Chi-hao in Game 6 of the SBL Finals at the Sinjhuang Sports Complex in New Taipei City yesterday. Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times

Taiwan Beer humbled Pure Youth Construction 79-66 in Game 6 of SBL Finals at the Sinjhuang Sports Complex in New Taipei City last night to clinch the best-of-seven series by a 4-2 margin.

The win not only gave the Brew Crew their fourth league title, tying them with the Builders and the Yulon Luxgens, but it also ended what had been a four-year Pure Youth dynasty.

Patrick O’Bryant had a monstrous double-20 day at the office with 21 points and 23 rebounds to lead the men in the familiar white and green uniforms, who dominated the Builders in every facet of the game.

He was deservedly named the SBL Finals Most Valuable Player by league officials after the game.

“It feels very good to finally win it after all these years in Taiwan,” O’Bryant said as he savored finally claiming the title having played for Taiwan Beer for three years.

“We weren’t about to let what happened to us last year happen again this time, so we put an end to it when we could,” Taiwan Beer coach Yen Chia-hua said, referring to his team’s failure to win the title despite taking a 3-1 lead against the Builders last year.     [FULL  STORY]

Taoyuan airport operator suspends 4th terminal project

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/24
By: Bien Chi-feng and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, April 24 (CNA) Taoyuan International Airport Corp. (TIAC) is suspending plans to build a 201604240005t0001fourth terminal at the airport after feeling that too many projects are already underway and any more construction would spoil the airport experience for travelers.

TIAC Vice President Wen Yung-sung (溫永松) said Sunday that work is already proceeding on expanding Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s second terminal and preparing to build a third terminal, and starting construction on a fourth terminal could affect service quality.

TIAC announced last year that it was planning to build a “smart terminal” — known as the fourth terminal — on the site of Terminal 1’s first parking lot to help absorb the surge of travelers who pack into the first and second terminal buildings during peak hours.

According to TIAC, the first and second terminals have a combined capacity of 32 million passengers a year, but in 2014 they handled 34 million travelers.     [FULL STORY]

Wholesale drags on commercial trade

DOMESTIC DEMAND GAUGE:Holidays at the beginning of this month are expected to have boosted retail and restaurant revenues, as well as the launch of Apple’s iPhone SE

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 25, 2016
By: Lauly Li / Staff reporter

The nation’s commercial trade contracted by 3.41 percent annually to NT$1.13 trillion (US$34.95 billion) last month, dragged down by continued weakness in the wholesale sector, the Ministry of Economics Affairs said.

The commercial trade data — including revenues from the wholesale, retail and restaurant sectors — is a closely watched gauge of the nation’s domestic demand.

The wholesale sector, which contributed 69.53 percent of total commercial trade, saw revenue plunge 5.3 percent year-on-year to NT$785.7 billion last month, mainly affected by declining purchases of notebook computers and TVs from Japan, the ministry’s Department of Statistics said in a report released on Friday.     [FULL  STORY]

2016 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival touts landscape art

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-04-24
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The 2016 Hakka Tung Blossom Festival, taking place through May 22, features landscape art as 6750144a new approach to promote the event.

The 15-year-old festival decided to invite landscape artists to make Tung-blossom thematic art – an unprecedented approach, the organizer, the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC), said. The organizer said it hopes to introduce the Hakka spirit, such as living in harmony with nature and cherishing and passing down traditions, to more people through Tung blossom-inspired art, and hopefully gives a new perspective.

Members of the public are invited to appreciate the actual artworks and watch arts performances at the Miaoli Hakka Culture Park, located in Jiuhu Village, Tongluo Towhship, Miaoli County (2:00 p.m. April 24, May 14 & 15), Sanwan Elementary School in Sanwan Village, Sanwan Township, Miaoli County (2:00 p.m. April 30 & May 1) and Wenshui Old Street at Huashu Park, Zhumu Village, Shitan Township, Miaoli County (2:00 p.m. May 7 & 8), according to the organizer.     [FULL  STORY]

TIAC halts construction work at Terminal Four

OVERSTRETCHED:The firm denied the decision was based on a potential decrease in Chinese tourists, saying it feared a loss of quality from too many ongoing projects

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 25, 2016
By: Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) yesterday confirmed that it has 201604240018t0001suspended the construction of Terminal Four at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, saying it feared that concurrent ongoing construction projects could lead to a deterioration in service quality.

The company has already begun construction of Terminal Three, which is scheduled to be completed by 2020. The company had also planned to build the smaller
Terminal Four, to cope with increasing passenger volume, in an area occupied by Terminal One’s parking lot. It was intended to service 5 million travelers per year and simultaneously accommodate four narrow-body aircraft and one wide-body airplane.
Terminal Four was to be a smart terminal, with an automated system able to adjust lighting and air-conditioning systems based on the number of passengers inside the building.

The company had said it urgently needed a smaller terminal built prior to the launch of Terminal Three, as the number of passengers serviced by the airport each year has already exceeded the combined capacity of terminals One and Two.

However, a report published in the Chinese-language China Times said the TIAC had suspended construction of Terminal Four as the nation would soon face a decline in Chinese tourists when cross-strait policy is altered by the Democratic Progressive Party administration following the May 20 handover.     [FULL  STORY]

Fulong tourism sector promotes SUP and rock climbing

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-04-24
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Besides a golden sand beach, a popular bikeway, and a sand sculpting festival, 6750197what else does Fulong Village’s tourism sector have to offer?
Stand up paddling (SUP) and rock climbing are being promoted to inject new energy into Fulong, which is a coastal village located in Gongliao District, New Taipei City in Northeastern Taiwan.

Fulong boasts the Fulong Beach, the 20km Old Caoling Trail Circle-Line Bikeway that passes through old fishing villages along the northeastern coast and the Old Caoling Tunnel, as well as inexpensive Fulong lunch boxes.

As it is located at the outlet of the Shuang River, Fulong is also an ideal place for water activities, including surfing, windsurfing, kayaking and SUP.     [FULL STORY]

Growing flights between Taiwan and Japan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/24

Taipei, April 24 (CNA) The number of flights between Taiwan and Japan 55772465increased to 727 per week in April, up 40 percent from the 517 flights per week in April 2015, resulting in service to more destinations and stiffer competition, according to the Commercial Times.

Even with the considerable increase in service, four airlines are planning to launch new routes between the two countries this year.

Tigerair Taiwan will launch flights between Taoyuan International Airport and Sendai on June 29, V Air will begin service between Taoyuan and Naha on July 1 and Scoot will begin flying between Taoyuan and Sapporo on Oct. 1, the April 20 report said.

In addition, Philippine Airlines will launch a daily flight between Taoyuan and Osaka on June 28 that originates in Manila.

Taiwanese made some 3.79 million visits to Japan last year, making it the top destination for Taiwanese traveling overseas ahead of China, to which Taiwanese made 3.4 million visits in 2015, according to the report.     [FULL  STORY]