Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/09/03
By: Lu Hsin-hui and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Sept. 3 (CNA) Taiwan on Sunday condemned North Korea’s alleged nuclear

test earlier that day, following the conclusion of a national security meeting presided over by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), saying that the move undermines regional security.

North Korea appears to have carried out another nuclear test, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported earlier in the day, citing South Korean military sources. The test is Pyongyang’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date, the reports said.

In the wake of the test, Tsai promptly called the national security meeting, according to the Presidential Office.    [FULL  STORY]

ELECTRONIC WARFARE:The National Security Bureau reported hacking attempts on its Web site reached a high of 613,789 in the second half of last year, but had since declined

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 04, 2017
By: Lo Tien-pin / Staff reporter, with CNA

The upgrade of Taiwan’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16A/B fighter jets with new

electronic countermeasures (ECM) pods has begun on a small scale, the air force said yesterday.

The upgrade is to improve the planes’ air-to-air and air-to-ground surveillance capabilities and combat capability to meet the needs of advanced warfare.

The fleet has 80 AN/ALQ-184(V) ECM pods and the air force has earmarked US$160 million to purchase 42 new ALQ-131A FMS pods that the US army has been developing to replace the old pods, but it would now only be able to buy 12 FMS pods for that budget due to increased research and development costs, the air force said.

The air force plans to outfit the F-16 fleet with the new FMS pod, which can be integrated with the jets’ combat systems and fit with the air force’s logistical planning, it said.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-09-02

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je says the Taipei Universiade committee should seek

compensation from the maker of a faulty electronic timer used during the games.

The timer malfunctioned during the women’s 500 meter sprint in the roller sports competition. Sporting officials have said that because of the malfunction, they will not recognize a world record set during the event by Taiwanese skater Chen Ying-chu.

On Saturday, Taipei’s mayor said that since the city contracted the maker to provide the timer, it is within the city’s rights to expect compensation for the fault. However, he said that the city may only be entitled to a maximum of NT$20,000 (US$660), an amount he said will not have any real impact on the company.    [SOURCE]

Check out our contributing cartoonist’s experience entering the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The News Lens
Date: 2017/09/01
By: Stellina Chen

Earlier this year, it was reported that Taiwanese citizens presenting only their Republic

of China passports are being refused entry into the United Nations Office at Geneva. But The News Lens’ contributing cartoonist had a different experience with the same institution two months later.

A Taiwanese group in June attending the International Labour Conference was turned away at the Geneva UN building because the international organization would not recognize their ROC passports. Led by National Chung Cheng University Department of Labor Relations Professor Liu Huang Li-chuan (劉黃麗娟), the group was told by UNHRC staff that “Taiwan is not a country” and “Taiwan Compatriot Travel Documents” — a permit issued by Chinese authorities allowing Taiwanese to travel to China — were required along with their passports to be admitted into the building, reported Taipei Times.

The professor said she sought the assistance of UN Office at Geneva Director-General Michael Moller, who told her that nothing could be done, as “Taiwan is not following the ‘one China’ principle.” Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said its office in Geneva was aware of the incident and had expressed to the UN Office at Geneva that Taiwan “could not accept the discriminatory actions.”    [FULL  STORY]

Vorayuth stayed at Taipei luxury hotel last April-May

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/09/02
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – An heir to the Red Bull energy drink empire wanted by Thai

police for killing one of their officers during a hit-and-run accident five years ago was last seen in Taipei in May, the Associated Press reported Saturday.

The hit-and-run charge against Vorayuth Yoovidhya expires this weekend, though he still stands accused of causing death by reckless driving. He was driving a Ferrari when he hit a police sergeant major on a motorcycle in the streets of Bangkok in 2012, before racing home and in effect avoiding the legal system since then.

According to the AP, Vorayuth flew by private jet to Singapore just days before he was due for a court appearance in Bangkok in late April. He then moved on to Taiwan where he arrived at the Mandarin Oriental in Taipei on April 28 and left on May 3, the AP reported, adding that the luxury hotel had failed to comment on whether he stayed there.    [FULL STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/09/02
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Sept. 2 (CNA) Nearly 100 people attended a ceremony in Taipei Saturday to pray for dead animals with the aim of both raising animal welfare awareness and curbing unnecessary killing for the Ghost Festival on Sept. 5, when animal sacrifices are traditionally offered to honor the dead.

Event participants took turns paying their respects to animals such as pigs, chickens and cattle — which are featured in headshot-style photos at a simulated sacrificial altar — and vowed to create a better environment that will eventually allow animals to live their lives on their own terms as intended by nature, rather than as dictated by humans.

“We know you feel scared. We will keep protesting until you are all free,” said Jessi Chang (張家珮), campaign manager of the “Love For All Memorial Day,” in her prayers for the animals.    [FULL  STORY]

‘SOFT POWER’:The president said the opening ceremony of the Taipei Summer Universiade showed that Taiwan compares favorably to the efforts of other nations

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 03, 2017
By: Yang Ming-yi / Staff reporter, with CNA

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said she is looking forward to more

democratic and diverse dialogue at the National Cultural Congress, promising that the advice received from the public at the congress would be incorporated into her administration’s cultural policy white paper.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Tsai called on academics and the public to engage in discussions and present ideas that can elevate cultural policies.

“We live in changing times and cultural policy needs new ideas and experimentation,” she said. “We have to upgrade our cultural policy as the nation transitions.”

A wave of digitalization and the increased footprint of foreign immigrants and workers have enriched Taiwan’s culture since similar congresses in 1990, 1997 and 2002, she said.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-09-01

President Tsai Ing-wen has awarded US congressman Ed Royce for his role in helping

promote ties between Taipei and Washington.

The Republican congressman from California is chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. At a ceremony on Friday, the president awarded Royce the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon.

Tsai said Royce has been pushing for major bills that are friendly to Taiwan since he became chair in January 2013. The bills include the sale of Perry-class frigates to Taiwan, and the reassertion of the Taiwan Relations Act as the cornerstone of bilateral ties, among others.

Tsai said Royce has also given his support for Taiwan’s bid to join international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization.    [FULL  STORY]

Taxable annual income threshold to be raised to NT$375,000.

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/09/01
By: Light McCandless, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

At the soonest, by 2019, some taxpayers can enjoy tax cuts. Under the Ministry of

Finance (MOF) tax reform program, the threshold for deduction of comprehensive tax will be raised from NT$90,000 to NT$110,000 and the threshold for special salary deductions and for those with physical and mental disability, will be raised from NT$128,000 to NT$180,000.

The increase in the threshold for standard deductions will benefit about 5.17 million or over 84% of households. The special salary threshold increase will benefit around 5.42 million, or over 88% of households; and the increase for physical and mental disability will benefit around 620,000 households.

The long-awaited dividend income tax reform program was also finally released. Minister of Finance, Sheu Yu-jer, recently said that the tax reform was not only for those with dividend income, but also took those who pay tax on their salaries into consideration, so it sought to improve the standard tax deduction, special salary deductions, and special deductions for those with physical and mental disability.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/09/01
By: Chen Chih-chong and Kuan-lin Liu

Taipei, Sept. 1 (CNA) Taiwan will soon start development of its first indigenous

autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), with the goal of launching it in five years’ time, officials behind the project said Friday.

At a press conference, Wang Chau-chang (王兆璋) , director of the Taiwan Oceanic Research Institute (TORI), said Taiwan already has the technology to develop its own AUV, which should be ready for the first round of testing in two years.

Wang said he hoped the AUV project would be completed within five years, with the allocation of adequate funds and manpower.

The AUV would help boost Taiwan’s oceanic research, military investigations, and international disaster relief efforts, according to former Deputy Minister of National Defense Admiral Chen Yung-kang (陳永康).    [FULL  STORY]