MILKING IT:The KMT later held its own flag-raising ceremony, at which Hung Hsiu-chu said that the party gets why ‘hardship’ was the public’s word of last year

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 02, 2017
By: Lin Liang-sheng and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNA

In a break with precedent, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) did not give a New Year’s Day speech

yesterday morning, instead marking the occasion by attending a flag-raising ceremony and singing the national anthem along with members of the military.

Tsai and Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) left the Presidential Office Building at 6:16am to join the hundreds of people already gathered in front to watch the New Year’s Day flag-raising ceremony, a tradition that has now been observed by four presidents.

As the flag was raised, Tsai and Chen sang the national anthem along with the crowd and 45 soldiers from various units of the armed forces who recently received commendations for their distinguished performances over the past year.

The ceremony was followed by a performance by a group of drummers made up of the Ministry of National Defense Symphony Orchestra and an indie band called Fire Ex, best known for writing a song for the Sunflower movement in 2014.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: January 2, 2017
By: The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The highly-anticipated fireworks display in front of Taipei 101 once again lit up the New

Year’s celebrations in Taipei — but turnout proved a damp squib, with attendances down on last year.

This year, the city’s public works department set up 18 alternative spots and four riverside parks for viewing the spectacle. These included numerous vistas located on the trails of Xinyi District’s Elephant Mountain and Tiger Mountain, as well as along Wenshan District’s Flying Dragon trail.

According to the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC), ridership on the city’s subway from 6 a.m. Dec. 31 to 6 a.m. Jan. 1 was around 2.64 million, down roughly 390,000 in comparison to the same period last year.

The TRTC attributed the drop to the fact that the New Year’s Eve fell on a weekend this year.

Some, however, have expressed concern that countdown shows in Taiwan were losing their spark, as big-name stars opted to perform at New Year’s events in mainland China.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: January 1, 2017
By: The China Post news staff and agencies

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwanese welcomed the new year with countdown parties and fireworks shows held

overnight across the island.

The biggest party took place at Taipei Civic Square near the Taipei 101 skyscraper, where hundreds of thousands of revelers were entertained by pop stars including A-Lin and Wu Bai (伍佰).

The highlight of the night was a fireworks display lasting 238 seconds at the Taipei 101.

A total of 20,000 fireworks were set off at the stroke of midnight, along with an unprecedented light show comprising 800 lights and special effects around the iconic tower.    [FULL STORY]

CONSENSUS FAILURE:Outside the venue, protesters attempted to rush a police barricade, with between 20 and 30 occupying a courtyard by the front entrance

Taipei Times
Date: Jan 01, 2017
By: Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA

The first public forum on pension reform failed to reach any clear conclusions yesterday, with

proceedings often becoming chaotic as noisy, while violent protests further disrupted proceedings.

The forum, chaired by Minster of Labor Kuo Fang-yu (郭芳煜), began at 2pm, while the Oversight for Pension Reforms Alliance staged a protest outside the venue, the GIS MOTC Convention Center in Taipei.

The atmosphere at the forum was tense. Attendees insisted that a matter of procedure be addressed first, as the forum was not chaired by National Pension Reform Commission Deputy Convener Lin Wan-i (林萬億), who had chaired previous forums on the issue.

Participants were vociferous and often punctuated their criticisms with loud banging on tables.

The noisy complaints continued during Kuo’s opening remarks.    [FULL  STORY]

Tsai Ing-wen today held her first major briefing and Q&A with the foreign press in Taipei.

The News Lens
Date: 2016/12/31
By: Edward White

Taiwan’s patience, resolve and versatility will be tested in 2017 amid an increasingly uncertain

international environment and renewed pressure from Beijing.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) first major press conference as president with both foreign and local press was held in Taipei this morning and covered a range of issues from cross-Strait relations and her phone call with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, to the local economy and same-sex marriage.

Tsai won the presidential election on Jan. 16, becoming Taiwan’s first female president. She is also the first Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader to hold both the executive branch and majority in the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s parliament. In her January victory speech, Tsai said that she will maintain a status quo to build a “relationship with no provocations and no accidents” with the Chinese government. At her May inauguration, Tsai said the new administration would “work to maintain the existing mechanisms for dialogue and communication across the Taiwan Strait.”

“For us to accomplish our goals, dialogue and communication are absolutely crucial,” she said at the time. “We will establish mechanisms for intensive and routine communications with all parties involved, and exchange views at all times to prevent misjudgment, establish mutual trust, and effectively resolve disputes.”    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/12/31
By: Central News Agency

Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) Taiwanese are gearing up to welcome the new year on Saturday, with countdown

parties and firework shows being held across the island to ring in 2017.

The biggest party, hosted by Sam Tseng (曾國城) and Bowie Tsang (曾寶儀), will take place from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Taipei Civic Square, with a lineup of pop stars including A-Lin and Wu Bai (伍佰).

A firework display scheduled to last 238 seconds will be held at the Taipei 101 skyscraper and involve setting off 20,000 fireworks at the stroke of midnight, along with a first time light show, including 800 lights and special effects around the building.

Now in its 13th year, the Taipei 101 firework display is one of the most watched New Year events in Taiwan, attracting huge crowds of onlookers keen to take part in the countdown in Taipei and enjoy the unique atmosphere of New Year’s eve in the capital.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/12/31
By: Lu Hsin-hui, Chen Wei-ting and Y.F. Low

Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said on Saturday that Taiwan faces a more uncertain international situation in the first half of 2017, but assured the people of Taiwan that the nation has the strength needed to deal with such challenges.

Changes in U.S. policy under the incoming administration of Donald Trump are likely to change the international situation and Taiwan will need to face the uncertainty that follows, Tsai said at a press conference held on New Year’s Eve.

“In the first half of next year, we will focus on dealing with changes in the international situation. The government will work to maintain peace and stability, and will actively seek out more opportunities to contribute to the international community,” she added.

Meanwhile, changes are also taking place in the region and across the Taiwan Strait, she said, apparently referring to recent moves by China, including the dispatch of military aircraft and a small flotilla of navy vessels into areas adjacent to Taiwan, as well as Beijing’s decision to resume diplomatic relations with Sao Tome and Principe after the west African country terminated formal ties with Taiwan.   [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: December 31, 2016
By: The China Post news staff

TAIPEI — 2017 is upon us — here is a breakdown of places where you can enjoy the Taipei 101 New

Year’s fireworks while avoiding the Xinyi shopping area mosh pit.

Here in the capital, the city’s public works department has set aside 18 alternative spots and four riverside parks for viewing the spectacle.

These include numerous vistas located on the trails of Xinyi District’s Elephant Mountain and Tiger Mountain as well as along Wenshan District’s Flying Dragon trail.

Rainbow Riverside Park (right-side embankment) is a favorite for viewing the fireworks from the Keelung River.

For a vantage point at Neihu’s Mirimar department store, we suggest setting up in Meiti Riverside Park (left-side embankment).

For more detailed information, visit the Public Works Department website: https://goo.gl/JC2bkb (in Chinese).

We wish you a wonderful and safe start to 2017!    [SOURCE]

The 10 biggest stories around Taiwan this year.

The News Lens
Date: 2016/12/30
By: Hsu Chia-yu

Taiwanese K-pop star forced to apologize after accused of being pro-independence
周子瑜

Chou Tzu-yu (周子瑜), a 16-year-old Taiwanese K-pop singer, was forced to apologize on air on Jan. 15, after holding a Taiwanese flag on a South Korean TV show. The incident angered Chinese netizens, who took it as a pro-Taiwan independence gesture. Chou was forced to make a public apology, in which she said, “There is only one China and the two sides are one.” She also canceled all tours in China to “reflect on herself.”
Read more here:

Taiwanese K-pop Star Accused of Being Pro-Independent and Banned from Performing in China
Japanese-American Actress Apologizes to ‘Everyone in China’ for Instagram ‘Like’

Taiwan elects first female president

Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) won the presidential election on Jan. 16 and became Taiwan’s first female president. Tsai was also the first Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader to hold both the executive branch and majority in the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s parliament. In her victory speech, Tsai said that she will maintain a status quo to build a “relationship with no provocations and no accidents” with the Chinese government.

Read more here:
Taiwan’s First Female President Wins By A Landslide
New Outlook on Cross-strait Agreements After Presidential Election    [FULL  STORY]

‘Taiwan will not be used as a bargaining chip by the United States’: Hsu Hsin-liang

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/12/30
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The head of a local think tank said in a radio interview Friday morning that a meeting between President

Tsai Ing-wen and Chinese President Xi Jinping is not unattainable given that an amiable cross-strait relationship can create a win-win situation for both sides.

A brief phone conversation between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Tsai on December 2 and Trump’s following outspoken social media comments against China have led to increasing tensions between the two countries. Beijing reacted with dissatisfaction and flexed its military muscles during the Christmas weekend by sending its naval vessels and aircraft carrier to the contested waters in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, respectively, raising alarm in neighboring countries, including Taiwan and Japan.

Two days later, Beijing grumbled about Japan’s decision to rename its de-facto Taiwan embassy, a move welcomed by Taiwanese politicians.    [FULL  STORY]