‘The difference between the two tigers is hidden in their eyes; the obverse side has undilated pupils while the reverse has dilated ones. Researchers believe this contrast is a metaphor for day and night, symbolizing constant vigilance.’

The News Lens
Date: 2017/05/25
By: Shannon Lin

On this day in 1895, Tang Jing-song (唐景崧), governor of Taiwan during the
Qing dynasty, was inaugurated as president of the Formosan Republic — a short-lived state established by Qing loyalists after China formally ceded Taiwan to Japan.

A flag of rag cloth, 3.1 meters long by 2.6 meters wide, was hoisted into the sky at the Qing Dynasty Taiwan Provincial Administration Hall in Taipei. The flag’s most distinctive quality was a yellow tiger situated on a blue background, painted in oil colors.

In March 2016, 121 years after it was first raised, the “Yellow Tiger Flag” was designated a national treasure by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: 2017/05/25
By: Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taiwan featured on the world stage twice within a week, the first time with an action that

was unsuccessful but nevertheless attracted much attention, and the second time with an event which was heard around the world.

Following the failure of the World Health Organization to send an invitation to Taiwan to attend the annual World Health Assembly, Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) nevertheless still decided to travel to Geneva to defend the country’s case. While unlike nine previous occasions, Taiwan was not allowed to attend proceedings, the minister’s strategy cannot be described as a failure, since it drew public attention and several major powers with official ties to China still dared to defend Taiwan.

However, the second event of the week ended on a positive note and helped the country to receive even more favorable and more widespread international media coverage, proving those wrong who say that only bad news gets reported.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/05/25
By: Lu Hsin-hui and Y.F. Low

Taipei, May 25 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Thursday that building advanced jet trainers and submarines domestically are part of Taiwan’s efforts toward defense autonomy that demonstrate the country’s determination to defend itself.

Since her government was inaugurated last year, it has listed military reform as well as enhancement of military morale and dignity as a top priority, Tsai said after observing a live-fire drill held on the outlying islands of Penghu as part of the annual Han Kuang military exercises.

So far, the Ministry of National Defense has established projects to replace ageing weapons and refurbish old military buildings to improve the work environment and dignity of military personnel, and to pave the way for Taiwan’s defense autonomy, Tsai said.    [FULL  STORY]

‘RELIABLE’:The government will support the armed forces in reforming national defense and improving conditions for military personnel, the president said

Taipei Times
Date: May 26, 2017
By: Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter

The armed forces yesterday conducted a live-fire exercise on the Penghu islands,

concluding the main part of the 33rd annual Han Kuang military exercises, with President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) observing the drill which simulated a landing attempt by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The scenario involved a landing by the PLA, with the nation’s armed forces launching an operation to repel the attack.

The Marine Corps acting as PLA troops launched an amphibious assault, with a naval formation of Keelung-class destroyers, a Tuo Chiang-class stealth corvette and Kuang Hua VI fast-attack missile boats providing covering fire.

The air force then launched the first wave of counterattack, with a group of fighter jets firing missiles at target areas at sea, and the army mobilized attack helicopters, tanks and infantry units, and launched an artillery barrage against landing troops.
[FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: May 25, 2017
By: The China Post

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Last year, the government vowed to carve out

NT$6 billion to support hospitals’ debt-ridden critical care services. That promise has not yet materialized, and the funds have now been redistributed to all medical services — to be shared by many. The medical community has since caught wind of this, and a heated debate has ensued.

Within hospitals, critical care units are loved for the vital work they do but hated for their high cost. These indispensable parts of hospitals receive scant funding support from National Health Insurance, and as a result they tend to incur substantial losses. On top of that, the condition and prognosis of critical care patients are often poor, and physicians young and old are daunted by the likely prospect of lawsuits.

Last September, the National Health Insurance Administration, which is in charge of allocating the health insurance budget, announced that nearly NT$5 billion would be devoted to critical care services — a figure that was increased to NT$6 billion after the plan was sent to the Health Ministry.    [FULL  STORY]

‘I hope the government and my fellow legislators can face this issue directly and fearlessly, rather than avoid it.’

The News Lens
Date: 2017/05/24
By: Jason Hsu
Jason Hsu (許毓仁) is a legislator-at-large with Taiwan’s Kuomintang. He founded TEDxTaipei.

Taiwan is at a historical moment today.

Justices of the Constitutional Court have ruled the ban on same-sex marriage to be

unconstitutional.

While traditional prejudices against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community are still deeply ingrained in society, I firmly believe that this decision can lead to a better understanding of same-sex marriage in Taiwan.

Last week, on the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT), I, along with Legislator Yu Mei-nu (尤美女), encouraged people to gather in front of Taipei Railway Station and stand together hand-in-hand, irrespective of their identity. Through organizing this public event, I hoped to help more people break the stigma and discrimination towards the LGBT community.
[FULL  STORY]

Magnitude 5 earthquake jolts central Taiwan including Chiayi City, Chiayi County and Yunlin County

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/05/24
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A magnitude 5 earthquake struck central Taiwan at 9:10 p.m. on Wednesday, according to a Central Weather Bureau (CWB) report.

The epicenter of Wednesday’s tremor was located 9.5 kilometers southeast of Chiayi City Hall, at a depth of 18.3 kilometers, according to the CWB.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/05/24
By: Huang Ya-juan and Lilian Wu

Taipei, May 24 (CNA) Taiwan is going to promote another of its popular local street

food, braised pork on rice (滷肉飯), following the success in marketing beef noodles, a dish that has been heavily promoted.

The Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Economic Affairs will sponsor the Taiwan braised pork on rice festival, inviting between 50 and 100 shops famous for the dish to take part in the festival.

The officials said that to project the image of Taiwan as a “country of delicacies,” it has targeted the street food for promotion, based on being included as one of Taiwan’s best foods by such international media as CNN and its attraction from many tourists.

According to legend, in the past, people were poor and could only afford to buy meat during worshiping ceremonies for gods and their ancestors.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: May 25, 2017
By: Jason Pan / Staff reporter

Religious groups and members of civic organizations advocating “traditional family

values” yesterday rallied outside the Judicial Yuan in Taipei, a rally that became a protest after the Council of Grand Justices in the afternoon issued a constitutional interpretation in favor of the legalization of same-sex marriage.

The protesters included members of the Happiness of the Next Generation Alliance, the Association for Taiwan Social Stability, the Alliance of Religious Groups for the Love of Families Taiwan and other groups that have vehemently opposed marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

At the initially boisterous rally, demonstrators accompanied their chants with drums and other musical instruments, while many people held up banners or placards with slogans such as “We do not welcome same-sex marriage in Taiwan,” “Defend the traditional family,” “The judicial process is unfair” and “Justice is dead and buried.”
[FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: May 24, 2017
By: The China Post

The LGBT community and its supporters across Asia and the world are celebrating today after a landmark ruling in Taiwan that paves the way for same-sex marriage.

The decision cements Taiwan’s role as a trailblazer in the region, where gay rights are often contentious and same-sex sexual activity sometimes outlawed.

Longtime gay rights activist Chi Chia-wei was one of the petitioners who brought the case to the Constitutional Court.

Chi asked the court to rule on whether the Civil Code, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, was in violation of the Constitution.
[FULL  STORY]