The News Lens interviewed Lai Hsiang-ling (賴香伶), the top party list candidate for Taiwan People's Party. She's a longtime labor rights activist since the 1990s and she has been heading Taipei's Department of Labor since 2014. What does she hope to achieve in the legislature if she's elected?

The News Lens
Date: 2020/01/07
By: Nicole Lee

A veteran labor rights activist, Lai Hsiang-ling (賴香伶) has participated in various union strikes since the 1990s. In 2014, she was elected to head Taipei's Department of Labor. Compared to the department of labor commissioners in other cities, Lai appears to be extremely progressive and energetic. Some have even jokingly praised her as "the only department of labor commissioner in all of Taiwan."

In 2019, after Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je established his Taiwan People's Party (TPP), Lai was named as TPP's top party list candidate for the upcoming elections. Aside from improving Taiwan's labor conditions, what else does Lai want to accomplish in the legislature?

TNL: Why did you decide to run in the legislative election as a TPP candidate? Were you hesitant about your decision?

L: Yes! I thought I was just going to fulfill my time at the department of labor when Mayor Ko first asked me in August. But I didn't consider what he said seriously until October. I agree with the mayor in building a trustworthy government, and we both want to achieve more in terms of execution. So I started to think about whether we should revise some existing laws or suggest new legislations.
[FULL  STORY]

Rick Scott says allowing spread of Communist China's influence 'will only open more doors for oppression'

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/01/07
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R) from Florida on Monday (Jan. 6) released a tweet supporting Taiwan's election and issuing a warning against the spread of Communist China's influence.

On Monday, Scott retweeted a Reuters article titled "Taiwan election is make or break for fleeing Hong Kong protesters" and wrote that the upcoming election in Taiwan on Jan. 11 is "vital for the continued fight for human rights & freedom in the region."

The article mentioned that some 60 Hong Kong protestors who have been given safe haven by the Taiwanese government fear that a win by Kuomintang candidate Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) could jeopardize their protected status in the country. Scott alluded to a potential victory by the pro-Beijing politician by adding in his tweet that "allowing China's influence to spread will only open more doors for oppression."

Scott closed by saying "We must stand with our brothers & sisters in Hong Kong & Taiwan." His last statement was reminiscent of a tweet by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey, which also called for standing with Hong Kong, before being taken down after maelstrom of criticism from and punitive actions by Communist China.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 01/07/2020

With the presidential and legislative elections on Saturday, presidential candidates are traveling the country this week in a final attempt to sway undecided voters.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the Democratic Progressive Party, who is running for re-election, began the second day of her five-day campaign tour in Chiayi, where she called for young voters to return home and cast their ballots.

Tsai is scheduled to travel through Chiayi, Yunlin and Nantou on Tuesday, and attend two campaign rallies, one in Nantou and the other in Changhua in the evening.

Also on Tuesday, Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) headed to Keelung to stump for the party's legislative candidate Song Wei-li (宋瑋莉).    [FULL  STORY]

CROSS-STRAIT COOPERATION: The agency has asked China to allow it to send a group to observe patients, treatment methods and the environment in the city

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 08, 2020
By: Lee I-chia  /  Staff reporter

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday issued a level one “watch” health notice for travel

to Wuhan in China’s Hubei Province due to an outbreak of a pneumonia-like illness, saying that it has also sent a request to health professionals in Wuhan for information to better understand the disease.

People planning to travel to Wuhan and its surrounding areas should take precautions, including avoiding direct exposure to livestock, raw meat markets and infected patients, the agency said, adding that they should also frequently wash their hands with soap, cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and wear a surgical mask when entering crowded areas.

As of yesterday, 59 people in Wuhan were confirmed to have contracted the unidentified viral pneumonia, which was first reported on Tuesday last week, with the cases mainly linked to a local market where seafood, live animals and raw meat are sold.

As the Lunar New Year is approaching and many Taiwanese in China are expected to return to Taiwan for the holiday, the Executive Yuan has asked the agency to increase preventive measures and send an investigative group to China, CDC Director-General Chou Jih-haw (周志浩) said on Monday evening.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 06 January, 2020
By: Paula Chao

President Tsai Ing-wen says the upcoming presidential election is crucial to Taiwan’s democracy and sovereignty. She was speaking Monday at a campaign rally in her hometown in the southern county of Pingtung.

Taiwanese voters will head to the polls on January 11 to vote for president and legislators.

Tsai, the ruling DPP’s presidential candidate, is seeking a second term in office. She said that with five days to go before the election, she is making a last-ditch effort to win support. 

Tsai said the election is crucial to Taiwan’s democracy, sovereignty, economic development, and the well-being of the people. The president urged the public to vote for her and for the DPP’s legislative candidates.    [FULL  STORY]

​To change the international narrative about Taiwan, we have to first get rid of the overused and erroneous terms.

The News Lens
Date: 2020/01/06
By: Ross Darrell Feingold

Journalists and commentators are preparing for Taiwan's January 11 elections. A previous commentary discussed repetitive clichés and other errors that appear in English-language reporting about Taiwan politics, including the oft-repeated terms like “renegade province” and “vibrant democracy.” 

In the lead-up to the election, we ought to discuss a few more examples to paint a more accurate picture of Taiwan. 

“One China Policy”

The United States and People’s Republic of China do not have an identical One China Policy. The U.S. does not adhere to the PRC’s One China Policy or One China Principle. It has also never established any stance on or approval of China’s claims that Taiwan is part of China.

The distinctions are explained in innumerable publications. Relevant primary documents such as the Shanghai Communique, Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and August 17 Communique (collectively known as the Three Communiques) are available online.     [FULL  STORY]

Lai was preferred choice in primary among those pushing for Taiwan's formal independence

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/01/06
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Vice presidential candidate William Lai (賴清德) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has refuted claims that the pro-independence camp would seek to remove incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) from office once she wins her re-election bid in the presidential election just five days away.

Lai, who spoke while rallying support in New Taipei on Monday (Jan. 6), denounced the allegation made by Tainan Councilor Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) of the Kuomintang (KMT) party the previous day as nonsense, reported NOWnews.

Hsieh alleged that DPP members who favor formal independence for Taiwan have been conspiring with each other against Tsai. He conjured up a scenario where Tsai could be ousted and replaced by Lai through political maneuvering after she successfully receives a fresh mandate from the electorate in the elections taking place on Saturday.

Lai brushed off the assertion, saying it was merely another attempt by the DPP’s political foes to drive a wedge between him and Tsai. He said Hsieh is an old acquaintance who is known for his “absurd” remarks, according to the report.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 01/06/2020
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Safer and faster road travel in eastern Taiwan became a reality on Monday following the official opening of the new and improved Suhua Highway connecting Yilan and Hualien counties.

The upgraded road bypasses the most precarious parts of the old highway, mostly through the use of tunnels, which account for more than 60 percent of the new road. It also shortens travel time between the two counties from 159 minutes to 100 minutes, said the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC).

The 38.8-kilometer project covers three sections along Taiwan's rugged east coast — from Su'ao to Dong'ao in Yilan County, from Nan'ao in Yilan to Heping in Hualien County, and from Hezhong to Daqingshui in Hualien.

The first stretch opened on Feb. 5, 2018, and the second and third road sections opened Monday, just in time to meet travel demand around the Lunar New Year period from Jan. 23-29, the MOTC said.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 07, 2020
By: Shelley Shan  /  Staff reporter

A total of 11.84 million international tourists visited Taiwan last year, a 7 percent increase over 2018, the

Tourism Bureau said yesterday.

The growth was the highest since a 23.63 percent rise in 2014 and was largely due to the diversification of the sources of international tourists, it said.

The number of Chinese tourists rose by 0.5 percent to 2.71 million, thanks to a robust increase early in the year, despite Beijing’s move in August to block its nationals from visiting Taiwan.

The number of Japanese visitors surpassed 2 million for the first time on Dec. 9, while the number of South Korean tourists also increased, the bureau said.    [FULL  STORY]

The Straits Times
Date: January 5, 2020
By: Jan Lee

TAIPEI – Taiwanese actor Ming Dao's older brother was reportedly found dead with his wife and son on Sunday afternoon (Jan 5) in a forested area beside a temple in Neihu District, Taipei.

According to Taiwanese news outlet Apple Daily, Ming's brother, a 42-year-old man surnamed Lin, was found hanging from a tree while his wife, a 40-year-old woman and their 12-year-old son were found dead beside him. Both reportedly had strangulation marks on their necks – giving rise to speculation that Lin had killed his own wife and child in a murder-suicide.

The man's link to Ming was discovered by Apple Daily as the address of residence on his identity card matched the address of a house Ming had previously bought for his mother.

Lin's motorcycle, with three helmets, was also found near the crime scene.    [FULL  STORY]