CHINA INVITE RESCINDED: Lawmakers demanded to know what headway the government was making in efforts to participate in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise

Taipei Times
Date: May 31, 2018
By: Jonathan Chin  /  Staff writer, with CNA

Minister of National Defense Yen De-fa (嚴德發) yesterday said the US government’s

removal of China from the Rim of the Pacific Exercise invitation list has created a “superb” opportunity for Taiwan to be included in the military drill.

Yen made the remark in response to questions from lawmakers during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

The Rim of the Pacific Exercise is held every two years in June and July, and is overseen by the US Pacific Fleet.

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tsai Shih-ying (蔡適應) asked if the government is stepping up its efforts to participate after Washington on Wednesday last week rescinded its invitation to China for this year’s exercise.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-05-29

The defense ministry says it respects the decision of the United States on whether

Taiwan may be invited to take part in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC). That’s the word from defense ministry spokesperson Chen Chung-chi on Tuesday. RIMPAC is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise that takes place in June and July of even numbered years.

Chen was speaking in light of recent pro-Taiwan policies passed by the US Congress. Chen said the US recognizes Taiwan’s role in the region.

“It comes to show that the US recognizes Taiwan’s role in the region as a peacekeeper. It is also the direction that we’re working towards. Of course it doesn’t matter whether the condition is to strengthen our military or provide assistance to our self-defense capability, we are optimistic about the role that we play as a peacekeeper for national security or in the region,” said Chen.

However, while the US has extended friendly gestures, China continues to exert pressure with Taiwan. Chen confirmed that Chinese agents recently attempted to hack into Taiwan’s military hospital database. Chen said fortunately the department in charge of information security has taken measures to prevent leaks.    [SOURCE]

Simple measures can make a world of difference to the lives of thousands of workers aboard Taiwan’s deep-sea fishing fleet.

The News Lens
Date: 2018/05/29
By: Nick Aspinwall

Taiwan’s lucrative deep-water fishing industry has found itself under immense pressure – as detailed in a Greenpeace investigation and a report by The News Lens last week – for its permissive attitude towards the abusive treatment of its largely migrant workforce.

Yesterday, a newly formed NGO coalition called Human Rights for Migrant Fishers (外籍漁工人權保障聯盟) met with representatives from Taiwan’s embattled Fisheries Agency (FA) and the Council of Agriculture (CoA) to demand regulatory changes and increased transparency. Coalition representatives told The News Lens they left cautiously optimistic but hoped the government would participate in sustained dialogue and cooperation.

“I think it’s a positive stance from the government,” said Lennon Ying-dah Wong (汪英達) of Taoyuan’s Serve the People Association, a labor rights organization. “We can accept that it’s hard to fulfill all international standards and NGO’s demands, but we need the sincerity and a schedule to do so from the government.”

Taiwan lags far behind its regional peers in implementing internationally recognized labor standards. If it fails to catch up to fellow fishery heavyweights like Thailand, Taiwan could suffer economic consequences, said Andy Shen of the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF). But he is optimistic that Taiwan can change its regulatory course before it finds itself stranded in a sea of more progressive competitors.  [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News  
Date: 2018/05/29
By:  Central News Agency

TAIPEI (CNA) – In the wake of record-breaking weather across Taiwan, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) is devising a heat early warning system so that people can take precautions against heat-related illnesses.

The draft system, to be called the “Heat Advisory,” will be launched in mid-June on the bureau’s official website, its weather app and its Line group for the press, CWB technical specialist Huang Chun-hsi told CNA on Tuesday.

According to the weather bureau, the new advisory system will use yellow, orange and red to indicate different heat levels, with announcements to be made in cities and counties at 5 p.m. one day before the temperature is forecast to rise to potentially hazardous levels.

A yellow light will be indicated when the mercury in a city or county is forecast to rise to 36 degrees Celsius and above the following day, while orange signifies a forecast of three consecutive days of temperatures above 36 degrees, or a high of 38 degrees.
[FULL  STORY8]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/05/29
By: Yeh Su-ping and Kuan-lin Liu

Taipei, May 29 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Haitian President Jovenel

Moise signed a joint communique on Tuesday that will further bilateral cooperation in multiple fields to benefit the people of both countries.

The communique sets in writing an agreement to establish a high-level taskforce that will draft, within 60 days, new terms of collaboration on economic and infrastructure development in Haiti as well as potential ways to attract more Taiwanese investors to the Caribbean country.

During the signing, Moise thanked Tsai and the people of Taiwan for their long-term support of Haiti’s development, especially this latest agreement that will further boost economic growth and employment opportunities.

Tsai responded by reaffirming Taiwan’s willingness to help on such mutually beneficial projects, and said she looks forward to communication and understanding being the foundation of all future collaboration.    [FULL  STORY]

‘SLANDER AND INSULTS’:  ‘I hope my departure will put an end to all irrational attempts to interfere with the ministry’s efforts to promote education policies,’ Wu Maw-kuen said

Taipei Times
Date: May 30, 2018
By: Ann Maxon  /  Staff reporter

Minister of Education Wu Maw-kuen (吳茂昆) yesterday said he has resigned from his

post, becoming the nation’s shortest-serving education minister.

Since he took office on April 19, he has been accused of illegally obtaining NT$176 million (US$5.87 million) in research bonuses from National Dong Hwa University while serving as its president, stealing a patented technology owned by the university, illegally working as an adviser at three institutions in China and illegally attending a summit held by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in China’s Hangzhou while he served as National Science Council minister.

Wu had previously explained that the research bonuses had been given to him due to an administrative error and denied all the other allegations except for attending the summit in Hangzhou.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-05-28

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu says the United States will help Taiwan maintain its ties

with allies. He was speaking Monday at the legislature.

Wu’s comments came after Taiwan broke off formal diplomatic relations with Burkina Faso last Thursday. That’s after the African nation switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.

That latest setback on the diplomatic front has triggered a crisis in Taiwan. Earlier in May, Taiwan severed ties with the Dominican Republic, which also switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. Both incidents are part of moves by China to shrink Taiwan’s space in the international community.    [FULL  STORY]

A slew of pro-Taiwan legislation has been brought to the US congress in the last two months.

The News +Lens
Date: 2018/05/28
By: Morley J Weston

U.S. Senators Cory Gardner of Colorado and Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts on Friday introduced the “Taiwan International Participation Act of 2018,” a bill that the senators say would “instruct U.S. representatives in international organizations to use the voice and vote of the U.S. to support Taiwan’s inclusion.”

As of the time of publication, text of the bill has not yet been released.

“The United States has an obligation to do everything it can to strengthen Taiwan’s international standing,” said Gardner in a press release, “This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that major international organizations do not turn a blind eye to our ally Taiwan simply because of China’s bullying tactics.”

Taiwan was recently excluded from the World Health Assembly, a United Nations convention of public health policy officials.    [FULL STORY]

 

Within one day, a record 27 cases of heat stroke caused by high temperatures in May 

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/05/28
By; Alicia Nguyen, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In total, 310 people have been reported from suffering severe heat-related injuries in May, a 93 percent higher rate compared to the same period of last year. Experts advise the public to drink more water and avoid prolonged outdoors exposure to the sun.

Starting last week, the temperatures across Taiwan began rising to intense levels, surpassing 30 degrees Celsius. On May 27, the mercury surged to 38.2 degrees Celsius in Taipei, making it the hottest day in May in the last 27 years.

According to the statistics on the number of patients suffering from heat related conditions, conducted by Ministry of Health and Welfare, 310 people have reported health problems due to high external temperatures in May.    [FULL STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/05/28
By: Tsai Yi-chu and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, May 28 (CNA) Riders of public bicycles in Taipei and New Taipei will enjoy

free insurance coverage from June 1, after the two cities secured an insurance company through public bidding to offer the service.

Taipei-headquartered Cathay Century Insurance won a bid opened by the New Taipei City government Monday, which allows the company to sell third-party liability insurance for public bike users in the city at a cost of NT$3.73 million (US$124,600) to the local government.

The insurance will cover all 16,000 public bicycles around New Taipei, and will be effective from June 1 to the end of the year, the company said.

Cathay Century Insurance won a similar bid from the Taipei City government earlier in the month, with its insurance policy for public bike users in the city to also take effect from June 1 to the end of the year.    [FULL  STORY]