Radio Taiwan International
Date: 10 July, 2019
By: Shirley Lin

The London School of Economics has decided to add an asterisk next to Taiwan on an inverted globe of the world, an art installation on the school’s campus. The decision follows controversy sparked by Chinese students.

Chinese students complained to the school after noticing that Taiwan and China were shown in different colors on the artwork. The school held a meeting with the artist and decided to place an asterisk next to Taiwan rather than changing its color outright. A new sign added below the globe reads “There are many disputed borders and the artist has indicated some of these with an asterisk”.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry has responded positively to the school’s decision. The ministry says the change not only respects the original spirit of the artist’s work, but also highlights the reality of Taiwan’s current situation.    [FULL  STORY]

A large environmental protest broke out in China and put a controversial proposal on
hold.
 

The News Lens
Date: 2019/07/10
By Brian Hioe

Environmental protests in Yangluo (陽邏), a residential district in the Chinese city of Wuhan, have garnered international media attention.

Almost 10,000 residents were protesting against the local government’s proposal to construct a waste-to-energy conversion plant. The protests lasted a few days since June 28 and have sparked violent clashes with riot police and the deployment of armored vans.

While the Yangluo protests have mostly been silenced by both police force and media censorship over the past weekend, the district government had agreed to listen to the public before moving forward.

Although the plant is promised to reduce landfills by burning trash to provide renewable energy, protesters cast serious doubt on its safety and environmental impact. Some have demanded not only the reversal of the project but also the collapse of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) altogether.
[FULL  STORY]

First death sentence in two years, no appeals possible

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/07/10
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Supreme Court on Wednesday (July 10) confirmed the death penalty against a man who committed arson on Lunar New Year’s Eve, killing six people including both his parents, and injuring four.

Weng Jen-hsien (翁仁賢) harbored a long-time grudge against his parents and brother, so he waited until a total of 16 relatives and friends had gathered to celebrate Lunar New Year’s Eve on February 7, 2016, at the family home in Longtan, Taoyuan City, before setting light to gasoline inside the house, the Central News Agency reported.

During the fire, six people perished, including both his parents and a nurse, and four more were left with injuries.

Both the district and the high court sentenced Weng to death, but the first time the case came in front of the Supreme Court, it sent it back to the high court, which once again ruled that the arsonist needed to be kept away from society for ever, confirming the death sentence.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/07/10
By: Chiang Chin-yej and Flor Wang

Department of State spokesperson Morgan Ortagus / Image taken from U.S. Department of State

website (state.gov)

Washington, July 9 (CNA) A recent arms sale package to Taipei approved by Washington was made based on United States law and intended to help boost Taiwan's self-defense capabilities, Department of State spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said Tuesday.

"Well, I think everybody here in this room, especially all of you from our — from the Asian bureaus, are aware of the Taiwan Relations Act. The State Department did notify on the arms sale today," Ortagus told a routine news conference.

"Our interest in Taiwan, especially as it relates to these military sales, is to promote peace and stability across the straits, across the region. And so our — there's no change, of course, in our longstanding 'one China' policy. That's based on the Three Joint Communiques, the Taiwan Relations Act."

"So I don't see our notification here as anything other than complying with the Taiwan Relations Act. The law specifically, of course, requires these sorts of — requires us to help Taiwan maintain their defense, self-sufficient defense capabilities. But our 'one China' policy remains the same, and so there's no new policy announcements for today," she added.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 09 July, 2019
By: Shirley Lin

The Quianshuizang ritual in Kouhu Village, Yunlin County has begun on Tuesday and will go on for two days. The ceremony is named an intangible cultural heritage and an important folklore activity by the culture ministry. It is a tradition to help the souls of those who have died from drowning to escape from the trap of moving waters. Quianshuizang literally means “drawing spirits out of the water”.

The event is the only folk ceremony that stems from a historical tragedy. It was traced back to a typhoon which struck Taiwan in 1845 causing a great flood on the west coast. The low-lying land offered no protection and thousands died.    [FULL  STORY]

The News Lens
Date: 2019/07/09
By: Milo Hsieh

Even before the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) became China’s ruling party, it has always put an emphasis on taking over the minds of the people as a psychological warfare. Stirring dissent and infiltrating enemy organizations were instrumental in CCP’s victory against Kuomintang (KMT) during the Chinese Civil War.

In its continuous attempt to claim sovereignty over Taiwan, the CCP has waged a similar tactic against Taiwan in the 21st century. Taiwanese politicians, public figures, and media outlets have been increasingly vocal in supporting closer ties or “reunification” with China, even though Taiwan was never ruled by the Communist Party.

On New Year’s Day, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) reiterated China’s right to the use of force in preventing a de jure Taiwan declaration of independence. While Beijing has yet to use armed forces against Taiwan despite constant threats, it has launched an aggressive pro-unification campaign through Taiwanese-owned media.

China’s media infiltration in Taiwan has led to the insurgence of “red media,” a newly coined term referring to Taiwanese-owned media that actively fall in line with Beijing’s interests. The problem of “red media” gained widespread attention in Taiwan when left-wing legislator Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) and right-wing influencer Chen Chih-han (陳之漢) allied to organize a massive rally against Beijing’s encroachments in June.    [FULL  STORY]

The MOHW has set high standards for aesthetic medicine organizations and doctors performing eight high-risk cosmetic surgical procedures

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/07/09
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) said there are only 168 legal

cosmetic surgery organizations in Taiwan and “any clinics not on the list are illegal,” Liberty Times reported on Tuesday (July 9).

The report added that MOHW sets stringent standards for cosmetic surgery and eight high-risk procedures in particular, six of which are: facial contouring surgery, facelift, rhinoplasty, breast implants, large-volume liposuction, and abdominoplasty. The ministry also requires an on-site anesthetist when a procedure involves general anesthesia.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/07/09
By: Elaine Hou, Yang Shu-min and Ko Lin

Taipei, July 9 (CNA) Taiwan joined the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) July 4, when it attended a meeting of the agreement's members as a "participating fishing entity" for the first time, the Fisheries Agency said Tuesday.

The country joined under the name "Chinese Taipei" with the aim of consolidating its fishing rights and interests in the Indian Ocean, as well as to assist in the development of Taiwan's offshore fishery industry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a statement.

The Sixth Meeting of the Parties (MoP6) was held at Flic-en-Flac, a seaside village on the west coast of Mauritius, from July 1-5.

SIOFA is an international agreement between several nations that came into force on June 21, 2012. The purpose of the agreement is to promote the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fishery resources in the area through cooperation among member states.    [FULL  STORY]

NO PLANES: While the deal includes Abrams tanks and missiles, the F-16V jets asked for in February were excluded. President Tsai thanked the US in a Facebook post

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 10, 2019
By: Staff writer, with CNA

The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$2.22 billion in weapons to Taiwan that

includes M1A2T Abrams tanks and Stinger missiles.

The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs announced the sales and the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency formally informed the US Congress of the approval on Monday.

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) thanked the US government in a Facebook post, saying the weaponry would strengthen Taiwan’s national defense capacity and deter potential military threats, as well as ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait and the wider region.

The US government has used the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) to take concrete actions that realize its commitment to Taiwan’s security, Tsai wrote.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan Internatinal
Date: 08 July, 2019
By: Leslie Liao

The annual Children’s Folklore Festival in Yilan County officially kicked off on July 6. Local residents were allowed in one day early to beat the rush of visitors.

Slides, pools, and fountains signal the return of the annual Yilan Children’s Folklore Festival! Doors opened to the public on July 6, but Yilan residents were allowed in one day early to enjoy the festivities. Some Yilan natives living outside of the county returned home, while local residents took the day off from work on Friday to come and play… free of charge.

Yilan County cultural affairs chief Song Long-quan (宋隆全) says that over 3,000 people entered park grounds within the first 17 minutes of opening.    [FULL  STORY]