Monthly Archives: April 2016

Tsai promises ‘freedom of expression day’

HONORED:Tsai said she hopes that by this time next year, Taiwanese would not only be remembering Deng, but would also be marking ‘freedom of expression day’

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 08, 2016
By: Loa Iok-sin / Staff reporter

President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that she would push to

President-elect Tsai Ing-wen, second left, attends an event in New Taipei City to mark the 27th anniversary of democracy pioneer Deng Nan-jung’s death. Photo: CNA

make April 7 national “freedom of expression day” to remember the death of democracy activist Deng Nan-jung (鄭南榕) 27 years ago.

“I remember that I made the promise right here last year that I would make April 7 ‘freedom of expression day’ when I am elected president,” Tsai said in a speech at a ceremony to commemorate the 27th anniversary of Deng’s death at his burial site in New Taipei City’s Jinshan District (金山). “I would like to reiterate my promise that, after I take office, I will ask government agencies to work on setting up a freedom of expression day.”

“I hope that when I stand here again on April 7 next year, all Taiwanese would remember the day not only as the day of Deng’s sacrifice, but also as Taiwan’s ‘freedom of expression day,’” Tsai said.

Tsai said that she will be inaugurated as president in little over a month, adding that she knows that she would not have had such an opportunity without the efforts made by democracy activists like Deng. [FULL STORY]

Lin Chuan names Lin Hsi-yao as Vice Premier

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-04-07
By: Chia Lee, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Premier-designate Lin Chuan announced Thursday during a media luncheon

Premier-designate Lin Chuan announced Thursday during a media luncheon, that he has named Lin Hsi-yao, the convener of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) transition team, as Vice Premier.

that he was naming Lin Hsi-yao, the convener of the Democratic Progressive Party transition team, to serve as his Vice Premier.

The premier-designate was cited as saying that he has been working closely with Lin, and was impressed by his flexibility and positive attitude, adding that due to Lin’s rich experience in both central and local governments, he believes he will serve as a good coordinator between governmental branches.

Apart from Vice Premier, Lin also announced the first wave of the Cabinet lineup, including former Financial Supervisory Commission chairman Shih Jyun-ji, former Vice Chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development Chang Ching-sen, former Director General of Directorate General of Budget Hsu Jan-yao, former Deputy Interior Minister Lin Mei-jhu and Lin Wan-I, a professor of social work at National Taiwan University, as ministers without portfolio. [FULL STORY]

Five young Taiwan universities ranked among world’s top 150

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/07
By: Jennifer Huang and Evelyn Kao

London, April 7 (CNA) Five institutions in Taiwan have been included this

National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung. (CNA file photo)

year in the Times Higher Education rankings of the world’s top 150 universities under 50 years old.

The five schools are National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (43rd), National Yang-Ming University (96th) and Chang Gung University, National Sun Yat-sen University and Yuan Ze University, which were listed in the 101-150 band.

Their listing gives Taiwan the distinction of having the most world-class young institutions in the top 150 list among all Asian countries.

Despite its comparatively high number of listings, however, Taiwan did not have many schools high up on the list, said Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education Rankings. [FULL STORY]

Ministry says ties with Vatican strong

ALLIES:President Ma Ying-jeou said that Taiwan’s friendship with the Vatican has remained unshakable and has become firmer, citing the many visits made by cardinals

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 08, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday reiterated the strong ties between

President Ma Ying-jeou, right, shakes hands with Paul Russell, the Vatican’s senior envoy to Taiwan, during a meeting at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA

Taiwan and its sole European diplomatic ally, the Holy See, amid renewed rumors that the Vatican and China are going to enter talks on resuming diplomatic relations.

“Diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the Republic of China (ROC) have reached their 74th year. Our friendship has been stable and marked by frequent exchange events, including the ongoing special exhibition featuring artifacts from the Holy See at Taipei’s National Palace Museum,” Department of European Affairs Director-General Anna Kao (高安) told a morning news conference in Taipei yesterday.

Asked to comment on recent speculation that China and the Vatican could begin talks about restoring formal diplomatic ties after both sides have reportedly reached a consensus on the long-standing thorny issue regarding the appointment of Chinese bishops, Kao said the ministry would closely watch any dialogue between Beijing and the Holy See. [FULL STORY]

AIT Director visits Kaohsiung Mayor

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-04-07
By: Chia Lee, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The Director said that this is his second time visiting the city, during which he hoped he could focus on Kaohsiung’s industrial development, and touch upon the possibility of more cooperation between the United States and Kaohsiung.
American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Kin Moy on Thursday visited Kaohsiung and met with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu. The two were seen exchanging opinions on trade and industrial development, and discussing the possibilities of potential cooperation between the two sides.

The director said that this is his second time visiting the city, during which he hoped he could focus on Kaohsiung’s industrial development, and touch upon the possibility of more cooperation between the United States and Kaohsiung. [FULL STORY]

Vegetable prices to dip amid sufficient supply: official

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/07
By: Yang Su-min and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) The average wholesale price of vegetables in Taipei is expected to fall to below NT$30 (US$0.93) per kilogram around April 10 due mainly to sufficient market supply as the lingering good weather seen recently has resulted in a rich harvest, an Agriculture and Food Agency (農糧署) official said Thursday.

Due to a short of supply of vegetables as poor weather over past months had affected production, the average trading price of vegetables at the Taipei Fruits & Vegetables Wholesale Market (台北果菜市場) hit a record high of NT$56.1 per kilo on March 29, according to Su Mao-shiang (蘇茂祥), secretary general of the agency under the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture.

However, the average wholesale price at the Taipei market dropped sharply to NT$32 per kilo on Thursday due to an increase in supply as the result of the bright sunny days recently that helped boost the vegetable harvest, Su said. [FULL STORY]

Lin Chuan introduces future Cabinet

EXPERIENCED TEAM:The premier-designate said that all of the confirmed Cabinet members have served in government positions and he has worked well with them

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 08, 2016
By: Loa Iok-sin / Staff reporter

Premier-designate Lin Chuan (林全) yesterday introduced eight future

Members of the incoming Cabinet pose for a group photograph with premier-designate Lin Chuan, fourth left, during a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA

Cabinet members, including the vice premier, the Cabinet spokesman, four ministers without portfolio and the future minister of health and welfare, to the media.

Speaking at a news conference yesterday afternoon, Lin introduced the first eight members of his future Cabinet, including future vice premier Lin Hsi-yao (林錫耀), future minister of health and welfare Lin Tzou-yien (林奏延), ministers without portfolio Lin Mei-chu (林美珠), Chang Ching-sen (張景森), Shih Jun-ji (施俊吉) and Hsu Chang-yao (許璋瑤), and future Cabinet spokesman Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) — who did not appear at the press conference as he is currently in the US as a visiting professor.

Lin Chuan said that all of the confirmed Cabinet members have served in government positions at different levels, and that he had worked well with all of them previously. [FULL STORY]

US Think Tank Suggestions on Taiwan Military Draw Suspicion

The News Lens
Date: 2016/04/07
Translated and compiled by Yuan-ling Liang

Rand Corporation, an analysis think tank supported by the Pentagon, recently

A Taiwan Air Force F-16 fighter jet taxies into position during a demonstration at Hualien airbase, eastern Taiwan January 23, 2013. REUTERS/Pichi Chuang (TAIWAN – Tags: MILITARY TRANSPORT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) – RTR3CTL8

issued a report, “Air Defense Options for Taiwan,” suggesting that Taiwan should reduce its budget on military aircrafts and emphasize more on missiles.

The preface of the report points out that Taiwan’s relationship and geographic condition with China lead to one of the most complicated air defense problems in the world. Since China has built systems that threaten Taiwan’s military aircrafts, the level of PLA’s (People’s Liberation Army) defense facilities surpasses that in Taiwan. If a military conflict takes place, Taiwan’s aircrafts would be completely destroyed.

According to the report, Taiwan’s fighter force is less capable than China’s and even outnumbered in the air. The island’s ground force is also by far too vulnerable. [FULL STORY]

Wong admits selling his daughter’s OBI shares

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-04-07
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Academia Sinica president Wong Chi-huey said he sold OBI Pharma shares for her daughter at the suggestion of an account operator and that his comments on OBI Pharma following the discouraging result of the company’s flagship clinical trial for a new breast cancer drug were made from a scientific perspective and not intended to prop the company up.

Since the revelation of the clinical result, OBI Pharma shares have plummeted from this year’s high of NT$718 on Feb. 19.

Wong Chi-huey, who is currently in the U.S., has been called upon by legislators and the public to return to Taiwan to explain the suspicions of insider trading over the incident.

On Thursday morning Wong Chi-huey submitted a statement to the Legislature’s Education and Culture Committee. He said in the statement that when his daughter opened a stock account in Taiwan, she authorized her parents to handle all affairs related to the account. [FULL STORY]

Year’s hottest day for Taiwan; cloudy weather forecast

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/04/07
By: By Wang Shu-fen and Kay Liu

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Cloudier weather is in forecast for most parts of Taiwan

Taipei.

after the island recorded the year’s highest temperature Thursday, according to the Central Weather Bureau.

Taiwan saw another sunny day Thursday, with the southern city of Chiayi recording a high of 33.7 degrees Celsius at 12:33 p.m., the highest temperature this year, the bureau said.

Taipei, New Taipei and Taichung, meanwhile, saw daytime highs of 32.7-32.9 degrees Celsius shortly before noon.

With a weather front approaching from the northwest, however, cloudy weather is forecast for northern Taiwan Friday, with partly cloudy skies forecast for central Taiwan. The sunny weather is expected to continue in southern Taiwan’s Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung. [FULL STORY]

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