CENTRAL IDEOLOGY: The law stipulates that central officials must publish a white paper on ocean policy and pollution, which would serve as a guide for all agencies

Taipei Times
Date:  Nov 02, 2019
By: Sean Lin  /  Staff reporter

The Legislative Yuan yesterday passed the Ocean Basic Act (海洋基本法), which aims to make

Taiwan a marine nation that strives toward ensuring sustainable use of the sea and its resources, as well as a facilitator of collaboration on international marine affairs.

The act stipulates that the central government should publish a white paper on ocean policy and marine pollution control within one year of the law’s enactment, and revise it regularly based on its results, and domestic and international developments.

Government agencies at all levels should review their marine policies based on the white paper and correct any action that contradicts the central government’s policy, the act says.

The government should educate the public about the ocean and make information on the ocean more accessible; build a marine industry with high added value; ensure sustainability in marine ecology and resources by promoting environmental friendly measures; and engage in exchanges in international marine affairs, it says.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 01 November, 2019
By: Shirley Lin

President Tsai Ing-wen expressed confidence on Friday that the Suhua Highway connecting Yilan and Hualien counties will be completed on schedule by January 2020.

Tsai said that residents of eastern Taiwan will be able to use the newly renovated highway before the Lunar New Year holiday, which starts on January 24 next year.    [FULL  STORY]

2019 Taiwan Pride: Queerness in Asia

The News Lens
Date: 2019/11/01
By: Rik Glauert

As Taiwan celebrated same-sex marriage win with the largest-ever pride parade on October 26, these couples are still fighting for their rights.

Mei-hui, a Taiwanese lesbian in her 30s, planned to propose to her girlfriend of six years under the stars near Taitung on Taiwan’s east coast. She prepared a video slideshow with some of their most romantic moments together since they met in 2013 when she was traveling in the west of China.

She had been planning the proposal ever since Taiwan’s highest court in 2017 ruled the country must recognize same-sex marriage within two years. Mei-hui saw marriage as a “way home” to a stable life as she and her girlfriend struggled to set up a life in China together.

But, when the same-sex marriage law finally passed through Taiwan’s parliament in May 2019, it did not allow couples like Mei-hui and her girlfriend to marry.    [FULL  STORY]

25-year-old son of Taiwanese actor Lee Hsing-wen gets naked in IKEA after it closes

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/11/01
By: Ching-Tse Cheng, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Max Lee (李堉睿), son of popular Taiwanese actor Lee Hsing-wen (李興文), has been sued by IKEA for illegally staying overnight at a New Taipei branch and pretending to shower and masturbate in a Youtube video he posted on Thursday (Oct. 31).

In the video titled "24Hour Challenge – Overnight inside IKEA," Lee hid in the furniture section of the IKEA in Xinzhuang District, walking on every table on display after the store closed. At one point, Lee even took off his clothes and sat on an IKEA toilet.

During his stay, an alarm went off, but Lee was able to conceal himself from the security guard. Lee then pretended he was lost and escaped the scene when the store opened the following morning, reported Liberty Times.

IKEA pressed charges against Lee after the video went viral, stirring up controversy. The Xinzhuang police precinct has handled the incident as a case of obscenity and trespassing.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/11/01
By: Miao Zong-han, Chen Chih-chung and Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, Nov. 1 (CNA) A retired National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) professor who disappeared

in China has been sentenced to a three-to-four year prison term on national security charges, a source close to the professor's family told CNA Friday.

Shih Cheng-ping (施正屏), a retired associate professor from NTNU's Graduate Institute of International Human Resource Development, has been missing in China since last August.

In an interview with CNA that day, a source with knowledge of Shih's case said they received word in April that Shih had been sentenced to three to four years, but did not divulge how or from whom the information was received.

The family has kept a low profile regarding Shih's disappearance in order to keep the news from Shih's mother, who is in poor health and has spent long periods in the hospital, the source said.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio aiwan International
Date: 131 October, 2019
By: Shirley Lin

It’s Halloween and Taiwan Insider is taking a look into people’s fears. By the end of the program, one of us will be wearing a Halloween costume related to one of the stories in our show! 

Also, we’ll introduce some of the altercations that have taken place at Taiwan’s Lennon Walls and the TAIPEI Act 2019, which the US Senate unanimously passed this week.    [FULL  STORY]

 

Taipei City Major Ko Wen-je was informed of the situation and said the individuals concerned had been separated and the matter would be investigated

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/10/31
By: Alex Wu , Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei City Government consultant Liu Chia-jen (劉嘉仁) has denied

sexually harassing Taipei City Government Vice-Spokesperson Huang Jing-ying (黃瀞瑩), during an interpellation at Taipei City Council on Thursday (Oct. 31).

CNA reported that Liu allegedly harassed Huang by calling her into his office to discuss work-related matters and closing the door. He also, reportedly, constantly sent her messages, which made her uncomfortable.

In response, Liu said the term “sexual harassment” was exaggerated. Instead, he characterized his messages as “a little bit annoying” and claimed his reminders were intended to ensure her performance met expectations, CNA wrote.

Huang made no comment. Chairperson of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, Yu Chia-che (余家哲), reportedly informed Taipei City Major Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) of the situation.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/10/31
By: Wang Shu-fen and Ko Lin

Taipei, Oct. 31 (CNA) The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) has filed a lawsuit against

Japanese firm Sumitomo Corp. and its affiliate in Taiwan seeking NT$611 million (US$20.05 million) in compensation for damage caused by a deadly train accident that took place last year.

In a statement issued Thursday, the TRA said the lawsuit was filed at the Taipei District Court against Sumitomo, which won the bid to supply the Puyuma tilting train fleet in 2011.

Puyuma Express train No. 6432 derailed Oct. 21, 2018 in Yilan County while heading to Taitung from New Taipei, leaving 18 passengers dead and 288 injured.

According to an investigation report released by the Executive Yuan a little more than one month after the accident, although there was mismanagement on the TRA's part, the accident was caused by design flaws in the train itself. Notably, these included the air compressor system, which was partly responsible for the crash after Sumitomo failed to fix it, despite having been previously notified of the issue.    [FUILL  STORY]

CRUCIAL PLATFORM: President Tsai Ing-wen said that whether or not the summit is held, Taiwan would still enthusiastically participate on the international stage

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 01, 2019
By: Su Yung-yao, Lu Yi-hsuan and Sherry Hsiao  /  Staff reporters, with staff writer and CNA

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday urged APEC members to collaborate on alternative ways of

presenting their year of hard work after the Chilean government on Wednesday announced that it was withdrawing as host of this month’s APEC summit.

Tsai expressed regret over the summit’s cancelation at a meeting with Brookings Institution senior research fellow Richard Bush at the Presidential Office in Taipei.

APEC is an important platform for dialogue on international economics and the “most important international organization” that Taiwan participates in, Tsai said, urging members to come together and adopt “remedial measures” so that they might still present their work from the past year.

Tsai said that she has instructed government agencies to continue multilateral, ministerial-level talks.    [FULL  STORY]