Monthly Archives: April 2016

Taiwan Busts Largest Drug Import

The News Lens
Date: 2016/04/14
Translated and compiled by: Yuan-ling Liang

On April 13, the Taichung District Prosecutors Office announced that it had

Photo Credit: daddyboskeazy @ Flickr CC BY 2.0

Photo Credit: daddyboskeazy @ Flickr CC BY 2.0

uncovered the biggest amount of drugs found in a Taiwan narcotic crime.

Two of the suspects, Cheng and Lee, were both arrested. The evidence includes 263 kilograms of ketamine and 1,520 kilograms of cathine (raw material for making amphetamine), adding up to more than NT$1 billion (approximately US$30.8 million).

At the end of March, the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau reported that drugs were found on a container ship from China. The Taichung custom officers then tracked down clues and uncovered a huge amount of drugs that could potentially be supplied to 36 million people.

Apple Daily reports, according to the prosecutors, the drug dealers intentionally imported the narcotics during spring break in Taiwan, when fewer customs officers are on duty. They stuffed the drugs inside large plastic decorations. The rest of the drugs were hidden in green tea and car wax containers. Before sent to Taiwan, the goods were originally shipped from China and loaded in Kowloon, Hong Kong.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan to include snow-related questions in driver’s license test

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/14
By: Chen Wei-ting and Kay Liu

Taipei, April 14 (CNA) Starting June 1, people taking the driver’s license test in 201604140016t0001Taiwan will be required to know about driving safety in snowy conditions, the Directorate General of Highways said Thursday.

A total of six questions related to driving on snowy or icy roads have been added to the existing database of questions, from which random picks are made for the driver’s license written test, highway authorities said.

The decision to include those questions was made after a rare snowfall at lower elevations in Taiwan in January caused problems on icy roads, resulting in at least two deaths, the authorities said.

The highway authorities said that with effect from June, the driver’s license written test will include questions on the use of snow tires and tire chains, the risks of skidding even with snow tires and chains, and the safe distance between vehicles on the road in snowy or icy conditions.     [FULL  STORY]

China Flexes On Taiwan In Kenyan Phone Fraud Scandal

Forbes
Date: APR 13, 2016
Ralph Jennings , CONTRIBUTOR

Taiwan isn’t just mad this week at its China, an old political rival that had been

Andrew Hsia, Minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, speaks to the press April 13, 2016. Taiwan said Kenyan police broke down a jail wall and used tear gas to force a group of Taiwanese to board a plane for China. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)

Andrew Hsia, Minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, speaks to the press April 13, 2016. Taiwan said Kenyan police broke down a jail wall and used tear gas to force a group of Taiwanese to board a plane for China. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)

spared a lot of wrath over the past eight years in the interest of building trust. It’s using diplomatic and legal tools to push Beijing for the release of 45 Taiwanese citizens who were deported from Kenya this month – to China rather than home, hence the outrage. It rang up a hotline Tuesday to accuse China of an international crime, abduction, and has prepared to send a delegation. It also intends to sue three government agencies in Kenya, which worked with China to get the
Taiwanese out after they were suspected of telephone fraud. China, Taiwan says, should have consulted it according to a 2011 agreement to team up on crime-busting issues.

China happens to claim sovereignty over Taiwan, which has been self-ruled since the 1960s. And China happens to be a globally sought-after economy of more than $10 trillion, a reason it has 170 diplomatic allies compared to Taiwan’s 22. China calls shots whenever facing Taiwan over an international issue and the Kenya case was no different. Beijing also doesn’t like Taiwan’s president-elect, so it feels less compelled to act nice as it has since 2008 under a more sympathetic president.     [FULL  STORY]

Steel stocks continue to rise; buying in broader market limited

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-04-14
By: By Frances Huang, Central News Agency

Taipei, April 14 (CNA) The steel sector in Taiwan continued its upward momentum Thursday morning on the back of a recovery in product prices, serving as an anchor to the movement of the broader market, dealers said.

However, buying in the broader market appeared limited, moving off an early high, as interest in the bellwether electronics sector faded, in particular among heavyweights such as contract chip maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and smartphone camera lens supplier Largan Precision Co., since investors pocketed gains built up a session earlier, the dealers said.

As of 11:55 a.m. the steel sector had gained 1.94 percent to reach 89.81 points, while the weighted index on the Taiwan Stock Exchange had risen 0.17 percent to 8,662.92 points off an early high of 8,719.15, on turnover of NT$55.40 billion (US$1.71 billion).     [FULL  STORY]

Largan cautious about Q2 sales: CEO

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/14
By: Han Ting-ting and Frances Huang

Taipei, April 14 (CNA) Adam Lin (林恩平), chief executive officer of Taiwan-

(CNA file photo)

(CNA file photo)

based smartphone camera lens maker Largan Precision Co. (大立光), said Thursday that the company was cautious about its second-quarter sales as it continued to be affected by the slow season.

Speaking at an investor conference, Lin forecast that Largan’s consolidated sales for April and May will change little from March, when it posted NT$3.02 billion (US$93.21 million).

In the months of May and June, advanced camera lens will weigh more heavily in the company’s portfolio as some clients are expected to ship their latest smartphone models then, he said.

In the first quarter, Largan posted consolidated sales of NT$8.27 billion, down 46 percent from the previous quarter and 22 percent from a year earlier.     [FULL  STORY]

TSMC Q2 revenue likely to fall short

PRODUCTION PLAN:An executive said the firm’s next-generation integrated fan-out packaging technology, likely to be used in iPhones, is to start production this quarter

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 15, 2016
By: Lisa Wang / Staff reporter

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) yesterday forecast single-digit percentage growth in revenue this quarter — falling short of market expectations — after posting the lowest net profit in about one-and-half years last quarter.

TSMC, which supplies chips for Apple Inc’s iPhone series, expects growth momentum to magnify from next quarter as customers roll out new products, which are likely to help stimulate demand for its technologies used in high-end smartphones.

Revenue for the second quarter is expected to grow 6 to 7 percent to between NT$215 billion and NT$218 billion (US$6.63 billion and US$6.72 billion) this quarter, from NT$203.5 billion in the first quarter, the chipmaker said.

The growth rate is slower than the 9 percent sequential increase estimated by Credit Suisse Group AG analyst Randy Abrams and 13 percent growth predicted by HSBC Group PLC analyst Steven Pelayo.     [FULL  STORY]

Government misplaces food safety focus on tests: Luis Ko

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-04-14
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

I-Mei Foods Co general manager Luis Ko, who has been championing the cause 6747883of food safety, has questioned on his Facebook page the validity of the government’s focus on implementing food inspections and tests to safeguard the country’s food safety.

Who can live with peace of mind knowing that the country’s food safety management only hinges on enforcement of food inspections and tests? Ko asked. Even though inspections and tests are a precise science, they have their limits too, Ko added.

As the technology of testing has achieved many breakthroughs, the precision of tests has increased by a thousand fold from parts per million (ppm) to parts per billion (ppb) to ppt (parts per trillion), Ko said, adding that the precision is undeniable.

However, samples come before tests, and samples are usually only a few hectograms, Ko said. So how to obtain a few hectograms of, say, grains or grease, from a huge storage silo of more than 1,000 metric tons, has become an ‘art,’ he said.

From which part of the silo, which usually measures more than 10 meters in diameter and in height, should samples be taken–from the top layer or the bottom layer, from the center or from the side? Ko asked.     [FULL  STORY]

Tsai Ing-wen ranks 19th in Time 100 reader poll

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/14
By: Luo Yuan-shao and Kay Liu

Taipei, April 14 (CNA) Incoming President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) finished in 19th

(CNA file photo)

(CNA file photo)

place in a reader poll run by Time magazine ahead of the release its annual list of “the 100 most influential people” for 2016.

Tsai, the only Taiwanese featured in the online poll, garnered 1.2 percent of the support from online voters, while United States Senator Bernie Sanders, who is seeking the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party took the top spot in the poll with 3.3 percent.

Time did not disclose how many people voted in the online poll, which presented 108 notable figures, such as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and was held between March 23 and April 13.

South Korean boy band Big Bang came in second with 2.9 percent, Myarmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi took third with 2.2 percent while U.S. President Barack Obama stood in fourth place with 2 percent.

Other female political figures featured in the poll include U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (8), German Chancellor Angela Merkel (23), and former U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton (25).     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan townships join global slow movement

Taiwan Today
Date: April 14, 2016

Taiwan’s Dalin, Nanzhuang and Sanyi townships’ commitment to retaining their

The rustic beauty and slow pace of life in southern Taiwan’s Dalin are key to the community’s recent Cittaslow certification. (Courtesy of Dalin Township)

The rustic beauty and slow pace of life in southern Taiwan’s Dalin are key to the community’s recent Cittaslow certification. (Courtesy of Dalin Township)

distinct identities in the face of globalization and improving the quality of life of residents recently saw them earn accreditation by Italy-based Cittaslow International.

Dalin, located in southern Taiwan’s Chiayi County, is famous for its rice, orchid and sugar production. In recent years the township has rolled out a raft of Cittaslow-compatible measures aimed at cutting carbon emissions, boosting environmental education and promoting organic agriculture.

These have seen Dalin capitalize on its rustic charms to attract more holidaymakers and newlyweds seeking a special photo shooting destination. Township chief Huang Chen-yu said residents understand the value of their community’s lifestyle and are eager to share experiences with and learn from other Cittaslow members.

Nazhuang and Sanyi in northern Taiwan’s Miaoli County are leveraging their Hakka heritage to spur local tourism. Taiwan’s Hakkas began arriving from mainland China in the 16th century, and today there are about 4.6 million representing around 20 percent of Taiwan’s 23 million population. They live all over the island from north to south and renowned for their unique architectural style, cuisine and folk arts.     [FULL  STORY]

Judges decide on penalties for fraud: minister-designate

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 15, 2016
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Minister of Justice-designate Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) yesterday said that there is

Minister of Justice Luo Ying-shay, center, walks down a corridor at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

Minister of Justice Luo Ying-shay, center, walks down a corridor at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

no need to revise fraud laws, because penalties are at a judge’s discretion.

The deportation of 45 Taiwanese involved in a telecommunications fraud case in Kenya and China has sparked a debate in which some lawmakers have proposed increasing penalties for fraud offenses as part of efforts to stem the crime.

Some in China, where many are affected by fraud, have said that Taiwanese courts treat fraudsters more leniently than in China.

The Criminal Code stipulates that those convicted of fraud using telephones or other communication equipment face imprisonment of not more than five years, Chiu said.

However, in 2004 the nature of the penalties for fraud offenses was revised to “one offense, one penalty,” Chiu said, adding that this means that the courts can increase sentences based on the number of plaintiffs.     [FULL  STORY]