Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/05/04
By: Liao Jen-kai, Hsiao Po-yang and Lilian Wu

Taipei, May 4 (CNA) Three people died and five were injured when a trailer that may have suffered from brake failure hit a total of 26 vehicles and motorcycles in Taichung on Monday.

Firefighters said the trailer was driving down a hill in Shalu District at 6 p.m. when it hit 17 small passenger cars, seven motorcycles and another two trailers. Two people died on the spot and five were injured.

A seriously injured woman died later in the hospital.

Want China Times
Date: 2015-05-04
By: CNA and Staff Reporter

Taiwan’s Presidential Office said Sunday that the 1992 Consensus between

Taiwan and China is undeniable history, dismissing a remark by former president Lee Teng-hui that the consensus does not exist.

Presidential spokesperson Charles Chen said that Lee approved the “implication of one China” during his presidency at a general meeting of the now-defunct National Unification Council Aug. 1, 1992, which stressed that “both sides of the Taiwan Strait agree that there is only one China, with each side having its own interpretation of what that means.”

With the two sides failing to reach an agreement on the interpretation of “one China” in a bilateral meeting held in Hong Kong in late October 1992, the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) proposed Nov. 3 that year that Taiwan and China “verbally state” their respective interpretation of “one China principle,” Chen said, citing historical documents.     [FULL STORY]

NAME GAME:Chinese President Xi Jinping said the two sides should settle political differences through ‘equal consultations,’ Xinhua news agency reported

Taipei Times
Date: May 05, 2015
By: Staff writer, with CNA and Reuters, Beijing

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) said yesterday in

Beijing that he hopes Taiwan and China will continue to work together based on the so-called “1992 consensus” and help increase cooperation between future generations.

In his opening remarks at a high-level meeting between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) — his first meeting with Chinese President and CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping (習近平) — Chu described the “1992 consensus” by saying that “both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to ‘one China,’ but with each side ascribing different contents and definitions to the concept of ‘one China.’”

“Hopefully the two sides can promote cooperation based on the 1992 consensus and work together on issues such as regional peace, environmental protection and economic cooperation,” said Chu, who assumed chairmanship of the KMT in January.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/05/03
By: Cheng Chi-feng and Ted Chen

Kaohsiung, May 3 (CNA) “To save up enough money to help our mother buy a

new house” is the wish made for the upcoming Mother’s Day by the Lin sisters, whose filial piety was recognized at an award ceremony held Sunday in Kaohsiung.

In contrast to other award recipients, who were accompanied by their family members, the poignant sight of the Lin sisters alone at the venue drew the attention of reporters.

Lin Chia-feng (林佳鳳), aged 11, is a fifth-grader at the Kaohsiung Municipal Chu-Hu Elementary School. She has two other sisters aged 15 and 8.

She said that her family once worked as farmers in neighboring Pingtung County, but when her father died three years ago, they relocated to Kaohsiung with their mother, who now runs a business renting and setting up tables, chairs and crockery for catering events.

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/05/03
By: Hsu Chi-wei and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, May 3 (CNA) Taiwanese religious and civic groups are continuing to

offer assistance to survivors in the wake of the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that devastated large areas of Nepal late last month.

The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, which has sent medical teams to the landlocked country to help with disaster relief, was scheduled to hold a blessing ceremony from Sunday through May 8 for earthquake victims.

During the six-day period, Tzu Chi will gather 10,000 people from its branches and liaison offices around the globe for a worldwide blessing ceremony featuring sutra chanting from 7:30p.m.-9 p.m. every day, according to the organization.     [FULL  STORY]

Want China Times
Date: 2015-05-03
By: Xinhua and Staff Reporter

The head of China’s top political advisory body, Yu Zhengsheng, said Sunday

said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should discuss ways for Taiwan to participate in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Talks may also encompass the Belt and Road Initiative and some regional economic cooperation, in order to develop the international market and improve the competitiveness of the whole Chinese economy, he said.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 10th Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum, a regular event between mainland China and Taiwan.     [FULL  STORY]

WATCHFUL NEIGHBOR?China said it would continue to protect the interests of the Taiwanese public, businesses, farmers and fishermen during a party-to-party summit

Taipei Times
Date: May 04, 2015
By: Staff writer, with CNA

New Taipei City Mayor and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu

(朱立倫) yesterday expressed hope that Taiwan would develop a greater role in the global community based on the so-called “1992 consensus” between Taiwan and China.

Speaking at the 10th Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum in Shanghai, Chu said that he expects Taiwan to play a bigger role if the nation takes part in the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Beijing’s “One Belt, One Road” trade initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade bloc.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/05/03
By: Ho Horn-ru and Ted Chen

Kathmandu, May 3 (CNA) Nepali Vice President Parmanand Jha accepted an

official note verbale Sunday from the Republic of China for donating US$300,000 to aid relief efforts in the earthquake stricken country.

The note verbale was presented by James Tien (田中光), the ROC Representative to India, during a visit to Jha’s official residence in Kathmandu. Although Jha accepted the note verbale, he asked the ROC to submit the check to the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi, India.

Jha added that he will forward the note verbale to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala as soon as possible.     [FULL  STORY]

TWO DOWN:As potential Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential contenders step aside, Lee Teng-hui said Wang Jin-pyng had qualities a leader should have

Taipei Times
Date: May 03, 2015
By: Shih Hsiu-chuan  /  Staff reporter

Vice President Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) yesterday said that he would not take part

in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) presidential primary, ending speculation on his run for the top office next year.

“No. Amitoufo,” Wu said to reporters on the sideline of a Buddhist event in Taichung, invoking a Buddhist mantra.

It was the first time that Wu gave an unequivocal answer to a question he has been asked repeatedly while the KMT has not announced a candidate.     [FULL  STORY]

Want China Times
Date: 2015-05-02
By: Xinhua

Eric Chu, Chairman of Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang Party, arrived in Shanghai on

Saturday for a cross-Strait forum.

Chu is leading a delegation to the 10th Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum, scheduled for Sunday.

Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met Chu at the airport.

The forum will focus on small and medium-sized companies, youth and ordinary people, to build a consensus and promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.     [FULL  STORY]