Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/26
By: Wang Yang-yu and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Sept. 26 (CNA) The driver of a Puyuma Express train that derailed last year in Yilan killing 18

people said Thursday that the investigators in the case had buried evidence that showed he was not to blame for the accident.

Yu Chen-chung (尤振仲), who was charged with involuntary manslaughter, said that on the day of the accident — Oct. 21, 2018 — he reported a problem with the train before he started on the route but was ignored by his superiors at Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA).

Speaking at a press conference, Yu said his worksheet for that day was a record of his report and there was also video footage showing his superiors handing him the key card to drive the train, despite his complaint.

However, none of that evidence has appeared in a report produced the Cabinet-appointed investigative team, Yu said, accusing the investigators of suppressing the evidence and deliberately skirting crucial facts in the accident.    [FULL  STORY]

‘EMBARRASSING’: The NPP’s Huang Jie denounced the use of a drawing to determine who could question the mayor at the session, which is to be used again today

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 27, 2019
By: Ko Yu-hao, Huang Chia-lin and Sherry Hsiao  /  Staff reporters, with staff writer

A scuffle erupted between Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT)

city councilors yesterday after DPP Kaohsiung City Councilor Cheng Meng-ju (鄭孟洳) attempted to hand a mock resignation letter to Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜).

After Han delivered a report at a meeting of the Kaohsiung City Council, the DPP caucus was the first to question Han.

Cheng, who was the first to speak, asked Han whether he could promise not to take time off on Nov. 12, when the council is to have a question-and-answer session.

Han, the KMT’s candidate in the presidential election on Jan. 11 next year, said that he had no such plans.    [FULL  STORY]

STILL LOCKED UP: Any reports that contact with Tsai had been lost were fabricated, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang told media

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 26, 2019
By: Chung Li-hua and Sherry Hsiao  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNA

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office yesterday confirmed that Tsai Chin-shu (蔡金樹), chairman of the

Southern Taiwan Union of Cross-strait Relations Associations, was “investigated” by Chinese authorities in July last year for allegedly engaging in activity that “endangers national security.”

Tsai’s family members were notified by authorities, office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang (馬曉光) said at a news conference in Beijing.

Media reports that contact with him had been lost were fabricated, Ma said, adding that the authorities handled the case with strict adherence to the law and guaranteed Tsai’s legal rights.

The confirmation came after Shih Chien University chair professor Chiang Min-chin (江岷欽) on Sept. 12 said on a political talk show that Tsai had been taken into custody for “national security reasons” about half a year ago.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 25 September, 2019
By: Jake Chen

Earlier this year, President Tsai Ing-wen announced that she would invite a select group of foreign tourists to spend the night in the Presidential Office. The office has now announced that it has finalized the list of guests to be invited.

Since August, the Presidential Office has received videos from people in 33 countries around the world. Each of these people has sent in a video in the hopes of being chosen for a rare opportunity: the chance to spend the night in the Presidential Office building. On Wednesday, the Presidential Office announced that after weighing the submissions, it has completed its exclusive guest list.

The selected tourists come from places included the United States, South Korea, France, and Canada. Some have been to Taiwan before, whereas others will be first-time visitors.
[FULL  STORY]

CGTN
Date: 25-Sep-2019

Beijing on Wednesday slammed the unilateral memo recently declassified by Washington, which "legitimates" U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

The document stated then U.S. president Ronald Reagan's own version of the understanding towards the joint communique signed by the two sides on August 17, 1982, also known as the August 17 Communique.

"The content of the so-called memo has seriously violated the one-China principle and the regulations of three Sino-U.S. Joint Communiques," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, adding that the document is "totally wrong and serves no means."

According to the spokesperson, Washington has explicitly promised in the bilateral communique that it will not seek a long-term policy to sell weapons to Taiwan and will gradually decrease the amount of weapons sales to Taiwan so as to settle the issue in the end.

Washington's decision to sell weapons to Taiwan has seriously damaged the relationship between China and the U.S.    [FULL  STORY]

Vice President Chen met with former East German dissident and singer Wolf Biermann

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/09/25
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The recent events in Hong Kong prove that dictatorship and democracy cannot

coexist, Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) told former East German dissident and singer Wolf Biermann Wednesday (September 25).

In a reference to the Berlin Wall, Chen said China had built a new high wall using modern technology to watch its population and to undermine the democratic systems in Hong Kong and Taiwan, the Central News Agency reported.

Hong Kong’s experience with the “One Country, Two Systems” formula showed the world clearly that it was impossible for dictatorship and democracy to coexist, the vice president told his guest.

Chen praised Biermann’s efforts in supporting the late Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo and his wife Liu Xia, who was allowed to travel to Germany for medical treatment last year.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/25
By: Wang Cheng-chung and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Sept. 25 (CNA) Terry Gou (郭台銘), founder of Hon Hai Precision Industry and an honorary

member of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), will stick to his decision to leave the party and will not agree to retain his membership, one of his aides said Wednesday.

The aide Tsai Chin-yu (蔡沁瑜) told reporters that Gou has already rid himself of the burden of the KMT and he does not want to be entangled with it anymore.

The statement followed a decision by the KMT's Taipei City chapter not to accept Gou's resignation from the party, which was submitted on Sept. 12 along with his honorary membership card.

KMT Chairman Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) and the Central Standing Committee have accepted a proposal by the party's Taipei City chapter for Gou to remain as a party member, KMT spokesman Ou-Yang Long (歐陽龍) said Wednesday.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 24 September, 2019
By: Paula Chao

Premier Su Tseng-chang says Taiwan has made a major diplomatic breakthrough by attending an event

held at the United Nations. Su was speaking Tuesday at the legislature.

Su’s comments came a day after a Taiwanese diplomat posted in New York attended the Global Call to Protect Religious Freedom event at the UN headquarters. US President Donald Trump gave a speech at the event calling on the international community to protect religious freedom.

Su spoke on the importance of Taiwanese diplomat Lily Hsu’s participation.

“For the first time, Taiwan’s formal diplomatic representative was able to enter the United Nations at the invitation of the US government. It’s a very important diplomatic breakthrough and shows progress in Taiwan-US ties," said Su. 
[FULL  STORY]

China’s strategy of global diplomatic isolation will harm Chinese interests in the long-run.

The Diplomat
Date: September 24, 2019
By: Travis Sanderson

Last week, both the Solomon Islands and Kiribati cut formal diplomatic ties with the Republic of China

(ROC) in Taiwan and entered diplomatic relationships with the People’s Republic of China. The two countries follow a long line of nations which have, in return for increased aid and financial assistance, recognized Beijing over Taipei.

With this development, the number of countries with formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan has now dropped to 15. While the Taiwanese government reels as president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) suffers what many perceive as a defeat, the Chinese government trades $730 million and commercial airplanes for two more victories in its strategy of global diplomatic isolation against Taiwan.

The Chinese strategy will likely continue to produce results for Beijing. Taiwan simply cannot compete in the long run against its larger and more economically powerful neighbor, especially since China has prioritized foreign assistance as a core component of its Belt and Road foreign policy. But as Beijing’s strategy pays out dividends to China’s attempt to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, Chinese decision-makers fail to see the danger that their own strategy produces for Chinese interests.     [FULL  STORY]

Inspectors looking into involvement by larger gang

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/09/24
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A taxi driver and two Vietnamese migrant workers were arrested for stealing wood from a national forest, reports said Tuesday (September 24).

This was the second such case in two months in the Wujie area of Nantou County, but the latest incident was unprecedented because the suspects used a cab to transport their loot, the Central News Agency reported.

Forestry Bureau inspectors based in Puli reportedly saw suspicious individuals and vehicles frequenting backroads through the forest. Monday (September 23) afternoon, they alerted police officers, who helped them stop a taxi carrying two Vietnamese passengers.    [FULL  STORY]