Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 12 April, 2019
By: Paula Chao

These days, there are plenty of places to get your hair cut in Taiwan, from fancy salons to quick-and-easy NT$100 shops. With stiff competition and aging owners, old-school barber shops are being squeezed out of existence.

But not all of Taiwan’s old barbers are quite ready to pack their styling kits away.

Barber Lee Geng-dai came to Taiwan from China’s Fujian province many years ago. He started learning how to cut hair at just 13. He’s now 98, and even after a lifetime of cutting hair, he still has no plans to retire.

At a young age, Lee opened up a barber shop in eastern Taiwan’s Hualien County. His wife later followed him into the hair-styling business.

In their family-owned shop, the couple still keeps some vintage tools such as scissors and hairdryers. These traditional barber shops offered more than just haircuts- for instance, they were places where customers could get their faces professionally washed. They were also essential parts of the community.    [FULL  STORY]

The Washington Free Beacon warns against electing pro-China candidates in 2020 presidential election

Taiwan News 
Date: 2019/04/12
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – In an opinion piece published on April 10, The Washington Free Beacon argued that there are two possible presidential candidates in Taiwan who are “dangerously pro-Chinese,” and it would be unwise for Taiwanese leaders to embrace closer ties with Beijing.

“It would be the height of folly for a Taiwanese leader to believe that China is a friend, let alone family, and therefore warm to Beijing at the expense of the island’s friendship with the United States,” wrote the commentary, titled “Why Taiwan’s Presidential Election Is so Crucial.”

Citing the remarks by the independent mayor of Taipei Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) that “the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family,” the article reckoned that Ko has strived to avoid criticizing China and seemed to project Taiwan as a “helpless victim” confronted by Chinese aggression.

Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), the member of KMT who is mulling a presidential run and who recently visited Hong Kong and met Chinese officials during his controversial trip, has also been seeking to forge friendly ties with China. Han has depicted Taiwan and China as partners in an arranged marriage, who had “fallen madly in love,” said the commentary.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/04/12
By: Chiu Chun-chin and Chung Yu-chen

Taipei, April 12 (CNA) Visiting Chinese scholar Li Yi (李毅) was deported from Taiwan

Friday morning because he was scheduled to make a public speech, which would have violated the terms of his entry permit, according to the National Immigration Agency (NIA).

Li was located at a hostel in Nantou in central Taiwan at 12:35 a.m. Friday and was deported on Flight CI-601 from Taoyuan International Airport to Hong Kong at 7:25 a.m., the NIA said.

Speaking about the matter, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) told reporters later in the day that Li’s deportation was justified and his visit was not welcomed in Taiwan.

Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌)

Entering Taiwan under the guise of sightseeing to advocate unifying Taiwan with China by means of force is “worse than terrorism,” Su said.    [FULL  STORY]

DEFENDING FREEDOM: One city councilor said many people feel they cannot sit idly by as the pro-China groups abuse the freedom of speech in their proxy work for China

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 13, 2019
By: Jason Pan  /  Staff reporter

A group of civic organizations is to stage a counterdemonstration to a rally by pro-

unification parties in Taichung today.

Legal experts and advocacy groups have criticized Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) and Taichung police for approving the rally organized by the China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP) and the Association for China’s Peaceful Unification, during which national flags of the People’s Republic of China are to be prominently displayed.

Controversy has been simmering over the rally, which was in media focus again yesterday following the deportation of the intended key speaker, Chinese academic Li Yi (李毅), who has advocated for China to invade Taiwan by force.

Taichung City Councilor Huang Shou-ta (黃守達) of the Democratic Progressive Party said that he had been working with a coalition of civic groups and pro-Taiwanese independence organizations to prepare a counter demonstration.    [FULL  STORY]

ALLIES: One senator said Taiwan has more bipartisan backing than any other place in the world, while another said that it should be a partner in the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 12, 2019
By: Staff writer, with CNA

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and three members of the US Congress voiced

support for Taiwan on Wednesday, the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA).

At a congressional hearing on the US Department of State’s budget, Pompeo said that he plans to fully adhere to the TRA, which was signed into law on April 10, 1979, as well as the Taiwan Travel Act and the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act, which were both passed last year, to strengthen the US’ partnership with Taiwan.

“We have a lot going on with AIT [the American Institute in Taiwan] with our senators there,” Pompeo said, when asked if high-level US officials would visit Taiwan in the near future to demonstrate the US’ commitment to Taiwan.

US Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy Chairman Cory Gardner said at the hearing that the TRA, the “six assurances” issued in 1982 by then-US president Ronald Reagan, the Taiwan Travel Act and the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act have become cornerstones of US relations with Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 11 April, 2019
By: Paula Chao

President Tsai Ing-wen says she will work to build a career market that will keep young talent in Taiwan.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Tsai said it is the government’s responsibility to create an environment that allows young people to develop their potential.

To pursue a new economic model for sustainable development, the government has unveiled the Asia Silicon Valley Development Plan to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.    [FULL  STORY]

Get your dancing shoes on for Taipei’s best-loved festival of all that is weird and wonderful: The Urban Nomad Opening Freakout. Here’s all the info on the festival including the timetable, music clips and top tips.

The News Lens
Date: 2019/04/11
By: Cat Thomas

Urban Nomad Opening Freakout has a firmly established reputation for bringing the deeply weird and quirky right to Taipei’s doorstep and this year promises to build on that tradition. The festival proper – which features 30 bands and DJs performing across three stages alongside other performing arts and a dash of installation art – is happening from 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (April 13-14) at what is arguably Taipei’s best festival spot: Tiger Mountain.

Freakout is well-known for upping the ante each year. Previous years have seen bands with giant shrimp costumes: Drowned Shrimp (Japan), electropop wonder Trippple Nippples (Japan) with their deliciously weird stage performance and numerous other delightfully odd yet excellent indie Japanese bands headline the festival. Last year Angelo Moore of Fishbone stole the show somewhat with his funk set which had the crowd jumping on the closing night. This year the organizers have cast their net wider with acts from Korea playing for the first time, plus bands from Canada and the U.S. From its roots as a one-night party in 2008, Freakout has grown into a weekend-plus event: This year will see pre-party events on Thursday and Friday, along with warm-up gigs in Kaohsiung.

Opening Freakout is not only a music festival: There is a strong emphasis on performance art threading both through the carefully curated music acts and, since 2018, in the form of the circus stage. There’s also an Art and Merchandise market onsite, and a positive smorgasbord of food and drink available.    [FULL  STORY]

Steve Chabot praised the Taiwan Relations Act on its 40th Anniversary in The Hill

Taiwan News 
Date: 2019/04/11
By: Duncan DeA0eth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – U.S. Congressman Steve Chabot published an article in the

Washington D.C. newspaper, The Hill, on Wednesday, April 10, touting the strength of U.S.-Taiwan ties and the importance of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) on the 40 th anniversary of its implementation.

Calling the TRA a “swift rebuke” to the Carter Administration’s ill-considered decision to abandon the government on Taiwan in favor of Communist China, Chabot recognized the TRA as the “cornerstone” of relations between the two countries.

Chabot, a co-chair of the Taiwan Congressional Caucus, calls Taiwan “one of the world’s most compelling examples of democratic transformation,” and declares his belief that it is essential to continue strengthening bilateral relations.

The Republican Congressman recently challenged the legitimacy of Beijing’s “One China Principle” as well as Washington’s One China Policy, with legislationthat would legally deny the two are synonymous to the U.S. government.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/04/11
By: Chiang Chun-liang and Flor Wang 

Taipei, April 11 (CNA) A religious procession held annually to celebrate the birthday of the sea goddess Matsu attracted more than 100,000 worshipers when it arrived at Fengtien Temple in Chiayi County on Thursday.

Worshipers from across the country began gathering early in the morning near Fengtien Temple in Singang Township in anticipation of the arrival of the Matsu statue, which is being carried on a nine-day procession that leads up to Matsu’s birthday April 27, the 23rd day of the third month on the lunar calendar.

Among the pilgrims in Singang were Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌), Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang (翁章梁), Legislator Chen Ming-wen (陳明文), Jenn Lann Temple Chairman Yen Ching-piao (顏清標) and Fengtien Temple Chairman He Ta-huang (何達煌), who assembled to pray for peace and prosperity in Taiwan.

The procession, organized annually by Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung, which houses the Matsu statue, has been in progress since April 6, with the statue being carried on a palanquin on the shoulders of worshipers.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 10 April, 2019
By: Paula Chao

President Tsai Ing-wen has vowed to uphold the spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act.

The US Congress passed the act on January 1, 1979 to govern Washington’s relations with Taipei as it moved to formally recognize Beijing.

During videoconference with three Washington-based think tanks Tuesday night, President Tsai said the Trump administration has already announced its plan to sell Taiwan weaponry. She also said that Taiwan has increased its defense budget for two years in a row. She said these moves are aimed at ensuring peace across the Taiwan Strait, not triggering conflict.

“But we can’t do this when we don’t have the ability to deter coercion and aggression. Our diplomats across the region are also working hand in hand to promote our shared values and interests, and push back against the growing tide of authoritarianism around the world. We know the dangers of authoritarianism too well. It is an ideology that is fundamentally at odds with freedom and the people’s right to choose,” said Tsai.
[FULL  STORY]