Rules on 'zero ractopamine' will remain in force, according to Taichung City Government

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/08/29
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung City said Saturday (Aug. 29) the level of ractopamine in pork should be zero, despite a central government decision announced the previous day to end a ban on meat from the United States containing residues of the leanness drug.

President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) decision, which will go into force Jan. 1, received praise for helping broker a trade accord between Taiwan and the U.S. The Council of Agriculture (COA) told worried hog farmers that a NT$10 billion (US$340 million) fund would help them withstand the pressure of U.S. imports.

However, Taichung, which is ruled by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), emphasized Saturday that its local regulations listed fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$100,000 if any ractopamine was found in pork or pork products, CNA reported. The fines covered all processes involved from manufacturing to transporting and exhibiting, selling or even giving away pork.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 08/29/2020
By: Hao Hsueh-chin and Ko Lin

Taichung, Aug. 29 (CNA) Police last month busted a big illegal marijuana growing operation in Nantou County, seizing a total of 1,361 cannabis plants, the largest in Taiwan's recorded history, the Taichung City Police Department said Saturday.

The raid was conducted on July 27, where officers found planting equipment and 787 cannabis plants grown on a residential rooftop in Xitun District, but the suspect had already escaped from the site, the department said.

According to Taichung authorities, the investigation started in early July when local police obtained information from an arrested drug pusher that the marijuana source had come from Kaohsiung.

Teaming up with authorities there, officers from the two municipalities dug deeper into the case, arresting everyone involved in the illegal sale of marijuana and subsequently tracing the main source of the drug supply to a man surnamed Liu (劉) in Nantou.    [FULL  STORY]

SPECIALISTS: Members of the 90-strong delegation would use separate elevators and restrooms, and would have Taiwanese officials escorting them at all times

Taipei Times
Date:Aug 30, 2020
By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

High-standard disease prevention measures have been prepared for a Czech delegation that is to arrive in Taiwan today, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said yesterday.

The 90-member delegation, headed by Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil, is to visit Taiwan until Friday to bolster bilateral economic, scientific and cultural ties.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥), who is also the CECC spokesman, said that delegation members would have negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test certificates issued within three days before their departure, and be given another test by physicians at their hotel after they check in today.

They would be given a third PCR test on Tuesday, he added.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 28 August, 2020
By: John Van Trieste

Taiwan’s summer vacation is drawing to a close. A new school year is about to begin, and with COVID-19 under control in Taiwan, classes will go ahead as they normally do.

But the government is not taking any chances, and the new school year will bring with it new rules designed to keep COVID-19 at bay.

When Taiwan’s children go back to school next Monday, here’s what they can expect. New COVID-19 guidelines for schools say that students won’t have to wear a mask if they are in well-ventilated areas and maintain a proper social distance.

It’s a sign of Taiwan’s success in fighting off COVID-19. But Education Minister Pan Wen-chung says this doesn’t mean anyone’s letting down their guard.    [FULL  STORY]

Next Shark
Date: ·August 28, 2020
By: Ryan General·

Taiwan is seeking a new passport design that will “convey the identity of Taiwanese” and the motif choices include images of bears, butterflies, and bubble tea.

Taiwanese identity: The initiative to change the passport design began on July 22 after Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan passed a resolution to emphasize “Taiwan” over “China” on the name of the country’s airline and passport, according to Taiwan News.   [FULL  STORY]

Dramatic video shows Chen livestreaming to fans immediately after being shot in New Taipei

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/08/28
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Brawny Taiwanese YouTuber Holger Chen (陳之漢) was shot twice in front of his gym in New Taipei City early Friday morning (Aug. 28) — yet still spoke on camera to his fans immediately after the shooting.

At 2 a.m. on Friday morning, Chen was shot in front of his gym on Renai Road in New Taipei City's Linkou District, reported UDN. According to witnesses at the scene, an armed male fired at Chen three times, inflicting wounds to his right arm, right thigh, and right ankle.

As of 6 a.m., Chen was undergoing surgery to treat the multiple gunshot wounds. Two of Liu's bullets hit the mark, with one round traveling through Chen's right arm and striking his right thigh, causing a comminuted fracture and lodging in the leg. The second bullet entered Chen's right calf and lodged in his right ankle.

Incredibly, shortly after being shot and while receiving first aid, Chen started a livestream broadcast to his fans on Facebook. Despite suffering intense pain and the sound of ambulances howling in the background, Chen was able to say: "I was shot twice. I hope that if I die this time, please everyone carry on my spirit, you must carry on my spirit."    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 08/28/2020
By: Emerson Lim

Taipei, Aug. 28 (CNA) Taiwan's announcement of the relaxation of restrictions on American pork and beef imports "will open the door to greater economic and trade cooperation" between both sides, the U.S. Department of State said Friday.

"We welcome President Tsai Ing-Wen's August 28 statement that Taiwan will move quickly to lift restrictions on imports of U.S. pork and beef," the department said in a statement posted on its website.

The U.S. is looking forward to the timely implementation of these actions, which is expected to provide greater access for U.S. farmers to Taiwan's market, and for Taiwan consumers to U.S. agricultural products, the statement said.

"President Tsai's vision and leadership in removing these longstanding barriers open the door to greater economic and trade cooperation between the United States and Taiwan," it said.    [FULL  STORY]

SETTING STANDARDS: The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it yesterday finalized a new rule that would require vendors to clearly label the origin of pork products

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 29, 2020
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday announced that Taiwan would ease restrictions on US beef and pork imports, while setting standards for pork containing ractopamine, in an apparent attempt to broker a trade deal with the US.

“This is a decision that was made based on national economic interests and is in line with future comprehensive strategic objectives,” Tsai told a news conference at the Presidential Office in Taipei.

Despite her Democratic Progressive Party’s long insistence on a “zero tolerance” policy toward ractopamine, Tsai said she has instructed government agencies to set a “safe tolerance” level for the leanness-enhancing drug in imported pork, based on scientific evidence and international standards, on the condition that the public’s health is protected.

Later yesterday at a news conference at the Executive Yuan, officials said the policy, scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, would have a limited effect on consumers and the nation’s pig farming industry.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 27 August, 2020
By: Paula Chao

Greenpeace is warning that many cities in Taiwan could be flooded by 2050 if carbon emissions aren’t reduced. They say that more than two million people could be displaced. In today’s Taiwan Insider: a look at startling images and how Taiwan is dealing with the problem.
[FULL  STORY]

Forbes
Date: Aug 27, 2020
By: David AxeContributor

The Chinese navy finally is mobilizing for its much-ballyhooed naval war game in the South China Sea. A war game that could include both of the fleet’s aircraft carriers and might, among other scenarios, simulate an amphibious assault on a Taiwanese island outpost.

Taiwan for months has been preparing for the exercise. The Taiwanese marine corps sent reinforcements to a strategic island group. The Taiwanese air force began loading live Harpoon anti-ship missiles on some of its F-16 fighters. Now F-16s are staging at one island outpost while a contingent of naval drones has arrived at another island base.

The motivation behind Taipei’s response is obvious. A Chinese war game could, in an instant, turn into an actual invasion of Taiwan. And even if it doesn’t, the upcoming concentration of Chinese forces represents a rare opportunity for Taiwanese intelligence to register Chinese ships and their capabilities.    [FULL  STORY]