Monthly Archives: April 2016

Largest eco-investigation conducted on Great Ghost Lake in years

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

The Pingtung Forest District Office said on Thursday that a large-scale 6747948ecological investigation on the Great Ghost Lake, located on the border of Taitung County and Pingtung County, had just been completed.

The Great Ghost Lake, which is regarded by the Lukai tribe as a sacred place, is the deepest natural high mountain lake in Taiwan, and difficult to reach due to the dangerous terrain.

The area where the Great Ghost Lake and the Little Ghost Lake are situated has great biological diversity and has been proclaimed as an important resting environment for wild animals.

Forests are diverse and plants well grown in this area as high elevation and diverse climate have combined to create favorable growing environments for different plants. Remarkably, the area has a well-kept primitive forest of East Asia’s tallest tree—Taiwania cryptomerioides.

The office said the Great Ghost Lake, located 2,180 meters above sea level, has an area of 39 hectares and consists of three lakes of different sizes. The main lake, about 250 meters wide and 650 meters long with depth being estimated at between 34 meters to 40 meters, is the deepest high mountain lake in Taiwan.     [FULL  STORY]

Greenpeace Taiwan reports on shark finning and worker mistreatment

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/14
By: Yang Shu-min and Kuo Chung-han

Taipei, April 14 (CNA) Greenpeace Taiwan (GPT) released a report on Taiwan’s

From Greenpeace East Asia report

From Greenpeace East Asia report

fisheries on Thursday, suspecting the Fisheries Agency’s willingness and capability to punish illegal shark finning and claiming rampant labor and human rights abuses on its fishing boats.

Greenpeace East Asia uncovered 16 illegal cases of shark finning in three ports in Yilan, Pingtung and Kaohsiung in a three-month investigation in the second half of 2015, but the Fisheries Agency (FA) only found 18 illegal cases in the entirety of 2015, GPT Ocean Campaigner Yen Ning (顏寧) said in Chinese that day.

She also said Greenpeace investigators did not see any Coast Guard or FA officers on the scene when they found the 16 cases from August-October 2015.

In response to Yen’s claim, Deputy Director Huang Hung-yen (黃鴻燕) of the Fisheries Agency told reporters on the phone that the agency has more than 100 employees monitoring illegal shark finning.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan protests deportation of ROC nationals

Taiwan Today
Date: April 14, 2016

The government voiced April 13 a strong protest over the detention and forcible

MOFA Minister David Y. L. Lin voices April 13 a strong protest over the actions of the Kenyan police in forcibly deporting 45 ROC nationals to mainland China. (CNA)

MOFA Minister David Y. L. Lin voices April 13 a strong protest over the actions of the Kenyan police in forcibly deporting 45 ROC nationals to mainland China. (CNA)

deportation of Republic of China (Taiwan) nationals to mainland China by the Kenyan police, describing the actions as serious human rights violation that have hurt the feelings of the people of Taiwan and severely affected cross-strait relations.

The incident occurred following the acquittal of 23 ROC nationals by a Kenyan district court on telecoms fraud charges. The group, ordered to leave the West African country in 21 days, was detained for 24 hours after attempting to collect their passports at Kilimani police station near the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

Eight of the 23 were deported April 8 to mainland China. The remaining 15, along with 22 other ROC nationals involved in a separate telecoms fraud case, were deported after police used tear gas to force them out of the station. “These measures are against the will of the 45 ROC nationals and we demand a reasonable explanation from the Kenyan government,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

President Ma Ying-jeou called on Beijing to return the ROC nationals to Taiwan and make sure forcible deportations to mainland China never take place again. This position is shared by President-elect Tsai Ing-wen, who said Taiwan’s jurisdiction should be respected.     [FULL  STORY]

China to prosecute in fraud case despite acquittals

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 15, 2016
By: NY Times News Service

The Chinese government on Wednesday announced that a group of Taiwanese

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese suspects involved in wire fraud are escorted off a plane upon arriving at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing on Wednesday. The deportation of nearly four dozen Taiwanese that`s part of a larger group including mainland Chinese from Kenya to China where they are being investigated over wire fraud allegations is focusing new attention on Beijingis willingness to assert its sovereignty claim over Taiwan. Photo: AP

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese suspects involved in wire fraud are escorted off a plane upon arriving at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing on Wednesday. The deportation of nearly four dozen Taiwanese that`s part of a larger group including mainland Chinese from Kenya to China where they are being investigated over wire fraud allegations is focusing new attention on Beijingis willingness to assert its sovereignty claim over Taiwan. Photo: AP

who were deported to China from Kenya would be prosecuted on charges of telecoms fraud, despite having been acquitted of the same charges by a Kenyan court this month.

The move escalated a diplomatic battle that has outraged officials who see the deportation of Taiwanese to China as an extra judicial abduction.

The case has also raised international legal questions and involved Kenya in the geopolitical maneuvering between Taiwan and China.

The Taiwanese arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, hooded and handcuffed, after being forced onto a plane by Kenyan police.

Taiwanese lawmakers have accused the Kenyan government of violating international law and its own laws to placate China.     [FULL  STORY]

Kenya leaves Ma’s China policy in tatters

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

Kenya is one of the most unlikely countries to have emerged as a player in 6747949relations between Taiwan and China. It is not even one of Taiwan’s rare diplomatic allies on the continent, and while some Taiwanese have no doubt visited because of its reputation for interesting wildlife and beautiful beaches, it mostly does not register with the average Taiwanese citizen.

Yet the country now has emerged as the place to undo years of efforts by President Ma Ying-jeou and his Kuomintang administration to present their China policy as a success which has raised Taiwan’s profile in the world.

At the origin of the sudden crisis are dozens of people from Taiwan and China who were allegedly active in the African country perpetrating telephone and online scams, allegedly mostly targeting residents of China.

A local court acquitted many of them, leading observers to believe they would either be allowed to stay in the country, or return to their native country, in the case of 45 of them, Taiwan.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan should have defensive deterrence capacity: president-elect

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/14
By: Sophia Yeh and Romulo Huang

Taipei, April 14 (CNA) Taiwan does not need to engage in an arms race with

President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (center) arrives at the Ministry of National Defense headquarters in Taipei.

President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (center) arrives at the Ministry of National Defense headquarters in Taipei.

China, but it must have a defensive deterrence capacity, President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Thursday.

Tsai, who will take office on May 20, made the remarks after hearing reports presented by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) at a briefing on confidential matters.

Tsai said that the government, society and armed forces constitute the three principal pillars of a nation’s defense, and that a good national defense can only be achieved when these three principal factors are consolidated simultaneously.

The incoming president said that after assuming power, she will elaborate on strategies for national defense and security in a more rigorous manner, allowing the armed forces to have a clear direction for their future development.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan protests deportation of ROC nationals

Taiwan Today
Date: April 14, 2016

2The government voiced April 13 a strong protest over the detention and

MOFA Minister David Y. L. Lin voices April 13 a strong protest over the actions of the Kenyan police in forcibly deporting 45 ROC nationals to mainland China. (CNA)

MOFA Minister David Y. L. Lin voices April 13 a strong protest over the actions of the Kenyan police in forcibly deporting 45 ROC nationals to mainland China. (CNA)

forcible deportation of Republic of China (Taiwan) nationals to mainland China by the Kenyan police, describing the actions as serious human rights violation that have hurt the feelings of the people of Taiwan and severely affected cross-strait relations.

The incident occurred following the acquittal of 23 ROC nationals by a Kenyan district court on telecoms fraud charges. The group, ordered to leave the West African country in 21 days, was detained for 24 hours after attempting to collect their passports at Kilimani police station near the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

Eight of the 23 were deported April 8 to mainland China. The remaining 15, along with 22 other ROC nationals involved in a separate telecoms fraud case, were deported after police used tear gas to force them out of the station. “These measures are against the will of the 45 ROC nationals and we demand a reasonable explanation from the Kenyan government,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

President Ma Ying-jeou called on Beijing to return the ROC nationals to Taiwan and make sure forcible deportations to mainland China never take place again. This position is shared by President-elect Tsai Ing-wen, who said Taiwan’s jurisdiction should be respected.     [FULL  STORY]

Minister calls on China for fraud facts

JOINT CRIME-FIGHTING:Chinese officials have said that scams committed by Taiwanese cost more than 10 billion yuan annually and inflict great suffering

Taipei Times
Date: , Apr 15, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter

Mainland Affairs Council Minister Andrew Hsia (夏立言) yesterday urged China

Mainland Affairs Council Minister Andrew Hsia yesterday speaks during a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

Mainland Affairs Council Minister Andrew Hsia yesterday speaks during a question-and-answer session at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

to present concrete evidence backing figures it released to demonstrate the prevalence of Taiwanese-orchestrated telecommunications fraud, while calling for a new round of negotiations on a cross-strait pact to jointly fight crime.

Hsia made the remarks on the sidelines of a meeting of the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee, which invited him speak and answer questions about Kenya’s deportation of 45 Taiwanese from Nairobi to Beijing on Friday last week and on Tuesday.

“I have seen the frightening numbers of [telecom scam] victims published by Chinese authorities. However, we hope they can present some evidence to back the figures so that they are not just conjecture,” Hsia said.

China is also urged to show evidence that its forcible seizure of the Taiwanese conformed with procedural justice, Hsia said.     [FULL  STORY]

Why Taiwan Offers The Best Road Trip Experience in Asia

The News Lens
Date: 2016/04/13
By: Jenny Peng

The best description I’ve ever heard of Taiwan was from a Canadian friend who FullSizeRenderspent over a year on the island teaching English. After spending time in Japan and Southeast Asia as well, he said that Taiwan was his favourite place to live and work. Because, as he described, the island is the combination of modern, reliable transportation and telecommunication networks of a country like Japan and has the relics and rural beauty of a historically agricultural society like Vietnam and Cambodia.

My friend’s words echoed in my mind as I set out on a cross-island road trip with seven other travelers and Jerry Chen, an English and Mandarin-speaking tour guide, starting from Taipei. Sometimes, it takes someone on the outside to notice what those on the inside have become immune to.

After many trips to the island, those observations from my friend gave me a new appreciation for why this place is the most convenient and diverse destination in Asia for an inexpensive road trip. My only regret is not spending more time in Tainan and at a few other unforgettable stops along the way.

For first time travelers to Taiwan, Taipei offers a slew of ‘must-see’ attractions, including standing on top of the world’s fifth tallest building, Taipei 101, and trying some of the ‘most famous dumplings on Earth’ at Din Tai Fung. With access to a van, I strayed from the typical city tourist spots and ventured 40 minutes east outside of Taipei from Regent Taipei to the small, mountainous town of Pingxi, which used to be a coal mining town.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Leader’s Bento Exposed

CRI
Date: 2016-04-12
By: Web Editor: Huang Yue

Taiwan media has recently publicized the picture of what it claims to be island

A photo of Ma Ying-jeou's bento is publicized by Taiwan media recently. [Photo: Agencies]

A photo of Ma Ying-jeou’s bento is publicized by Taiwan media recently. [Photo: Agencies]

leader Ma Ying-jeou’s bento.

According to Taiwan’s United Daily News, the “dedicated set meals for the senior leaders” include fish, meat and three different kinds of vegetables, and only cost 50 Taiwan dollars, or around 10 yuan.

However, the nutritious bentos can’t be appreciated by every senior officer in Taiwan. Some officials say they get bored after being served with these bentos day after day.

Ma Ying-jeou has been enjoying the set meal for eight years.

The topic has aroused heated discussions on the Internet on the mainland. A netizen from the Chinese mainland says he just came back from Taipei, and a bowl of beef noodles at Taipei’s Night Fair cost him 100 Taiwan dollars (around 20 yuan). He says Ma Ying-jeou’s bento is quite cheap.

Ma Ying-jeou won Taiwan’s leadership in 2008 and will be relieved of his office next month.     [SOURCE]