The China Post
Date: August 20, 2017
By: Special to The China Post

TAIPEI, Taiwan — At a press conference today, Taipei Universiade Organizing

Committee (TUOC) CEO Su Li-chiung, TUOC Security Department
Commissioner Huang Sung-Chen and others TOUC representatives voiced their severe condemnation against an incident yesterday, in which protesters blocked delegation athletes from entering the venue during the Taipei 2017 Universiade opening ceremony.

TUOC said it had reviewed the situation immediately after the ceremony and had tightened security along athletes’ routes and Universiade vehicle routes to ensure smooth operations. The athletes are the stars of the Universiade competitions, as well as of the opening and closing ceremonies, said Su, who called for protesters to return the stage to the athletes and give the athletes the biggest support.

Su said that under the original plan, security personnel and safety vehicles had been deployed to provide security to delegation vehicles. In addition, security had been strengthened along travel routes for competitors in the sporting events, and police had been deployed to patrol the athlete drop-off and pickup points.
[FULL  STORY]

Protesters delayed entrance of athletes into stadium

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/08/19
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade opened in the Taiwanese capital Saturday to the sounds and hues of indigenous music, colorful dancing but also political disruption.

The August 19-30 event is the largest international sports happening ever hosted by the country, and features about 7,700 students from 141 countries and territories.

In the presence of an audience estimated at more than 20,000, artists of various hue presented the diversity of Taiwan’s culture.

In a segment heavy on indigenous symbols and design motifs named “Vibrant Island,” singers Yaga Tunga and Sangpuy Katatepan Mavaliyw, who won the Golden Melody Award for album of the year, brought the typical sounds of Taiwan’s original inhabitants.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/08/19
By: Tsao Yu-fan and Y.F. Low

Los Angeles, Aug. 18 (CNA) Final preparations are underway for the launch of

Formosat-5, Taiwan’s first domestically developed satellite, from a U.S. air base next week, a Taiwanese official said Friday.

The satellite, which arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California last month, is scheduled to be sent into space on Aug. 24.

Chang Ho-pen (張和本), director of the Formosat-5 project at Taiwan’s National Space Organization (NSPO), told CNA that testing conducted over the past weeks indicated that the satellite was functioning normally.

Although it took quite some time to integrate Formosat-5 with its launch vehicle, the Falcon 9 rocket, the work has been completed successfully, Chang said.
[FULL  STORY]

’DEEPEST DISCONTENT’:Some participating nations’ flagbearers marched alone after their teams were blocked by people protesting pension reforms outside the venue

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 20, 2017
By: Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

The Summer Universiade last night opened with a ceremony at the Taipei Municipal

Stadium that featured an array of performances focused on Taiwanese culture.

The Summer Universiade, also known as the World University Games is the biggest sports event ever hosted by Taiwan. More than 7,700 young athletes from 141 nations are competing in the Games, which are scheduled to run through Aug. 30.

The nearly three-hour opening ceremony began at 7pm. Overture shows included traditional martial arts, a students’ marching band and performances by the honor guard, as well as singing and dancing to the Taipei Universiade’s theme song, Embrace the World (擁抱世界擁抱你) by the band I-Want Star Taiwan.

At 7pm, fireworks went off above the stadium marking the beginning of the event, followed by the Chinese Taipei Universiade Flag being brought in by eight Taiwanese representatives who competed in international sports events, led by former Olympic medalist Chi Cheng (紀政).    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: August 19, 2017
By: The China Post

In the wake of an unexpected disruption in the opening ceremony of the Taipei

Universiade, Taipei’s mayor Ko Wen-je and International University Sports Federation (FISU) President Oleg Matytsin expressed regret about what had happened, but urged everyone to continue to cheer for the athletes.

Taiwan is a democratic country that has freedom of speech and respect for the expression of different opinions, the mayor of Taipei said.

He said the protests on Saturday had prevented some of the delegations from entering the stadium, Upon being alerted of the incident, police immediately mobilized to address the situation, allowing Chinese Taipei’s athletes and visiting delegations to proceed. Spectators greeted this belated parade with loud applause, Ko said, adding that in that moment, he was very moved.    [FULL  STORY]

A quick preview of the opening ceremony for the 2017 Taipei Universiade

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/08/19
By: Rana Yeh, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade kicks off officially on Saturday as the opening ceremony starts at 7 pm at Taipei Stadium, which is anticipated to gather over 7,000 athletes from 131 countries.

The Taipei City Government has prepared for six years for the biggest international sports event ever held in Taiwan. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will attend the opening ceremony and will announce the start of the games officially.

After a 19-month planning period, the highly expected opening ceremony will last for three hours and include three segments of cultural performances based on the themes of nature, city and technology, showcasing Taiwan’s characteristics to the world. All 12,000 tickets for the opening ceremony have been sold.

Taiwanese pop singers Leehom Wang, A-Lin, Taiwan’s first indigenous music band BOXING as well as other aboriginal artists including Wang Sheng-yu, Sangpuy, the Chu-Yin Culture and Arts Troupe and the folk music choir of Taiwu Elementary School will perform the Universiade theme song together on stage.
[FULL  STORY]

 

The China Post
Date: August 18, 2017
By: The China Post

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The man who attacked a guard at the Presidential Office Friday

with a katana chose a weapon deep in historical and political meanings.
The samurai sword, stolen from the Armed Forces Museum, has “Killed 107 in the Battle of Nanking” carved into its blade collar in Chinese characters, which are also widely used in Japan.

The Battle of Nanking, then the capital of the Republic of China, was one of the key battles in the Second Sino-Japanese War. The city also has loaded meaning, as it is the location of the Nanking Massacre, during which Japanese troops engaged in the mass murder and rape of residents after seizing the city.

That incident, and such acts by the Japanese in general, are commonly used by authorities in China to stir animosity of Japan and build nationalist sentiment in the process.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/08/18
By: H.H. Lu and Flor Wang

Taipei, Aug. 18 (CNA) A military police officer on guard outside the Presidential Office was wounded by a sword-wielding man who apparently tried to break into the building on Friday morning.

The military police officer who sustained cuts to his neck was rushed to the National Taiwan University Hospital for treatment.

According to eyewitnesses, the man whose identity has yet to be confirmed parked his scooter by the sidewalk and rushed at the guard on the west side of the Presidential Office building, striking him with the sword in the ensuing struggle.

The man was restrained by security personnel and later taken away for questioning by police officers.    [FULL  STORY]

NO COLLATERAL:Ho Shou-chuan allegedly extended loans to a company run by a relative of his wife through a complex network of business ties. He was released on bail last night

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 18, 2017
By: Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA

The Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday indicted former SinoPac

Financial Holdings Co (永豐金控) chairman Ho Shou-chuan (何壽川) and 18 others for contravening the Securities Exchange Act (證券交易法) and the Banking Act (銀行法).

Ho allegedly extended loans to Sun Power Development and Construction Co (三寶建設), run by a relative of his wife, Chang Hsing-ju (張杏如), without sufficient collateral, violating the limitations on transactions between interested parties as stated under the act, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors are asking for a 12-year sentence for Ho, as well as a fine of NT$360 million (US$11.88 million) and the confiscation of the US$12 million in alleged illegal profits.

Ho, who had been detained since the middle of June along with three other suspects on grounds they might collude with each other on their testimony or destroy vital evidence, was ordered released on bail last night by Judge Chou Yu-chi (周玉綺), even though prosecutors had applied to have all four’s detention periods extended.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-08-17

Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je has urged the public to give a warm welcome to athletes

arriving in the city for the Universiade student games.

Ko said, “Everyone says Taiwan’s most beautiful scenery is its people. So I’m calling not only on Taipei citizens but also residents of the greater Taipei area: when you see foreigners on the street, greet them with our most sincere hospitality and enthusiasm. Taipei has been voted online as one of the friendliest cities in the world. We hope that through the Universiade, we can show the world just that.”

Commenting on slow ticket sales for the games, Ko said events involving local athletes have sold relatively well. He encouraged the local public to also go cheer on visiting teams.

Meanwhile, foreign ministry spokesperson Eleanor Wang confirmed Thursday that Uganda will send a team to the games. The country’s participation was in doubt earlier this week. That was due to political pressure regarding their government’s “one China” principle.    [FULL  STORY]