Radio Taiwan International
Date: 30 April, 2020
By: John Van Trieste

The foreign ministry has thanked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland for supporting Taiwan’s participation in the WHO.

During a meeting of Japanese lawmakers Wednesday, Abe said he had spoken to the WHO’s secretary-general in the past about Taiwan’s inclusion, telling him that viruses do not respect borders. He said that Taiwan was the first to report to the WHO about COVID-19’s transmissibility between people.    [FULL  STORY]

Eoch Times
Date: April 30, 2020
By: Jack Philips

The head of Taiwan’s intelligence agency suspects that North Korean despot Kim Jong Un is sick, but did not elaborate, saying there are contingency plans in place should Kim be incapacitated or die.

Reports over the past two weeks have claimed that Kim, 36, is either in “grave” health, dead, or in a vegetative state. However, South Korean officials have said he is still alive and in control of the impoverished, communist nation, while President Donald Trump told reporters he is still alive.

Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Director-General Chiu Kuo-cheng was asked by a lawmaker about whether Kim is gravely ill or deceased, and Chiu said that he is “sick.” Chiu only smiled when he was asked a question about whether the leader is still alive, reported the Taiwan News.
[FULL  STORY]

Man who stabbed cop judged to be suffering from schizophrenia and therefore could not be found guilty

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/04/30
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The parents of railway police officer Lee Cheng-han (李承翰), who was stabbed to death by a passenger, are reportedly furious at the not-guilty verdict handed down by Chiayi District Court judges on Thursday (April 30).

The verdict prompted Lee’s mother to say, “If killing police is not a crime, who would dare be a police officer?” CNA reported. Lee was stabbed to death by a passenger surnamed Cheng (鄭) on July 3 last year, during an altercation stemming from a ticket issue.

In response to the sentence, the slain cop’s mother urged the nation's justice system to ensure her son did not die in vain, according to the report. She made clear the sentence was unacceptable, not only to her and her husband, but also to their relatives, friends and neighbors, per CNA.

Severe sentences are necessary if arbitrary killings are to be eradicated and society is made safe, the mother said. She added that a police officer's job is tough enough already, without seeing killers get away with their crimes.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 04/30/2020
By: Chang Ming-shuan and Emerson Lim

Taipei, April 30 (CNA) The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Thursday it is considering lifting some of the restrictions related to its COVID-19 coronavirus prevention efforts, as Taiwan has recorded no new cases for the fifth consecutive day, leaving the total number at 429.

At a daily press briefing, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said the CECC will start discussions with the relevant government agencies and civic organizations about gradually relaxing some of the COVID-19 restrictions in areas such as sports, cultural activities and restaurant dining.

People are advised, however, to remain vigilant, continue to practice good personal hygiene, observe social distancing and wear surgical face masks when necessary, said Chen, who heads the CECC.

The CECC also issued a reminder to Taiwanese citizens returning from abroad to notify airport authorities of any COVID-like symptoms such as a cough or fever on arrival and to contact local health agencies if they develop those types of symptoms during their mandatory 14-day home quarantine.
[FULL  STORY]

DAY 5 OF NONE: Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung said that people could adopt a ‘happier’ attitude given the last domestic case was on April 12

Taipei Times
Date:  May 01, 2020
By: Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporter

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday released disease prevention guidelines ahead of the three-day International Workers’ Day weekend that starts today, as it reported no new COVID-19 cases for the fifth straight day.

The guidelines include several recommendations that have been repeated by authorities since the initial outbreak of the novel coronavirus, such as maintaining good personal hygiene.

People should avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth, and maintain social distancing of at least 1.5m when indoors and 1m outdoors, they say, adding that when social distancing cannot be maintained, a mask should be worn.

If going outdoors, it is best to visit open spaces where there are no crowds, the guidelines say.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date:\ 29 April, 2020
By: Paula Chao

[The Magic of Music]

Even when the world screeches to a halt, music can give us the energy to keep on going. In today’s Taiwan Insider, a look at how music moves us neurologically. 

We also speak with Taiwanese concert pianist Hsin-I Huang in New York City, who has been offering daily performances on-line. Today he plays a special piece for us, dedicated to the medical workers on the front lines.    [FULL  STORY]

The Baltic Times
Date:  2020-04-29
By:  BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – The Chinese ambassador has said a recent call by several hundred Lithuanian politicians, science and public figures to support at the highest political level Taiwan’s involvement in the World Health Organization is "an open provocation to the principle of one China".

"I highly appreciate the present position of Lithuania that is very precautious, skillful in handling this and putting cooperation with Taiwan people at the technical, expert level, and practical cooperation, economic, cultural and charity, many other areas. But, officially, the Chinese government is the only government representing the whole of China, including Taiwan people. So, of course, as your some members of the Seimas and those two hundred people support Taiwan's involvement in the WHO and other United Nations bodies and organizations, this is a very official acton and the Chinese government is firmly opposed because it is an open provocation to the principle of one China," Ambassador Shen Zhifei told in an interview with the delfi.lt news website.

His comment came in response to a letter signed last week by 50 Lithuanian lawmakers and over 100 representatives of culture and science and calling on the president to support, at the highest political level, Taiwan’s involvement in the World Health Organization's activity.

The authors of the open letter are calling on President Nauseda to support "at the highest political level, Taiwan’s involvement in the World Health Organization meetings, activities and mechanisms (including the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN) and to support its full participation in the World Health Assembly".    [FULL  STORY]

Look back at key moments over past 100 days of CECC's fight with coronavirus

Taiwan News
Date:\ 2020/04/29
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tuesday (April 28) marked the 100th day since Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) was activated and what follows is a look back at important dates and actions taken to fight off the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19):

On Dec. 31, Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) contacted the WHO's International Health Regulation (IHR) focal point, as well as its Chinese counterparts, for confirmation that human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 was occurring. It never received a response.

Having learned a bitter lesson from SARS, which took hold in the early 2000s, the Taiwan government enhanced border control and quarantine measures, based on the assumption that such transmission was possible. It also began screening passengers arriving from the Chinese city of Wuhan before disembarkation that same day.

After China finally, quietly announced on Jan. 20 that human-to-human transmission of the disease was indeed occurring, Taiwan immediately activated the CECC. The sloth-like WHO did not warn the world about human-to-human transmission of the highly infectious disease until Jan. 24.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 04/29/2020
By: Emerson Lim and Angie Chen

Taipei, April 29 (CNA) Taiwan on Wednesday rejected a Philippine official's remarks that it is part of China, and Beijing therefore can help decide whether a Filipina caregiver in Taiwan should be deported to Manila, after she allegedly criticized the Philippine president.

"China has never ruled Taiwan for one day, and only the popularly elected Taiwan government can represent the country's 23 million people internationally," MOFA spokeswoman Joanne Ou (歐江安) said in a statement Wednesday.

She said Taiwan's representative office in Manila has been instructed to file a formal protest over the statement by Philippine Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.

According to a report on ABS-CBN News in the Philippines, Roque said the decision on whether the caregiver should be deported rests with Taipei and Beijing.    [FULL  STORY]

REMAINING VIGILANT: People should feel comfortable whether or not they plan to travel this weekend, but they should not let their guard down, the health minister said

Taipei Times
Date:  Apr 30, 2020
By: Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

The nation yesterday reported no new cases of COVID-19, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said, adding that 311 patients have been removed from isolation after recovering.

It was the fourth consecutive day with no new confirmed cases and the 17th consecutive day with no new domestic cases.

People can feel light-hearted regardless of whether they plan stay at home or travel during the International Workers’ Day long weekend, but they should not let their guard down, said Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center.

The CECC’s goal now is to withdraw the line of defense back to “individuals,” meaning that if everyone in society can maintain good personal hygiene and practice social distancing, the chain of infection between people would be broken, preventing large-scale outbreaks, and regulations could gradually be loosened, allowing people to lead more normal lives, he said.
[FULL  STORY]