The China Post
Date: November 28, 2016
By: Sun Hsin Hsuan

Labor groups demanding “true justice” protested in front of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)

Demonstrators stab a paper board that lists the promises President Tsai Ing-wen made during the election at an annual protest organized by labor groups in front of the Democratic Progressive Party’s Taipei headquarters, Sunday, Nov. 27. (CNA)

headquarters on Sunday, calling President Tsai Ing-wen’s transitional justice agenda “fake.”

Approximately 500 demonstrators from over 50 labor groups braved the rain on Sunday afternoon to express their dissatisfaction with the new government on a host of intersecting issues, such as immigrants’ working rights, land justice, higher education, energy transformation, gender equality, food safety and, above all, labor rights.

The annual “Autumn Struggle” protest has been staged by private sector workers since 2009.

Demonstrators accused the DPP of breaking its promises from the 2016 election cycle, saying the party has been overly focused on the Kuomintang’s ill-gotten assets, while social issues concerning the public’s daily lives have been overlooked.

Hsinchu Confederation of Trade Unions Director Chan Su-chen (詹素貞) said the president had been oblivious to the voices of labor in pursuing policies that would eliminate seven statutory public holidays and make changes to rules governing working hours.   [FULL STORY]

Thousands march in Kaohsiung gay rights parade

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/11/26
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The New York Times described Taiwan as “a same-sex marriage pioneer” as

(By Central News Agency)

thousands marched in Kaohsiung for gay rights Saturday.

The Legislative Yuan is in the middle of reviewing legislative proposals which could legalize same-sex marriage, though opponents managed to slow down the process by demanding and receiving two extra public hearings on the subject.

In an opinion piece by its editorial board Friday, the New York Times said Taiwan’s gay rights movement had “built enough political support” to make passage possible early next year.

“President Tsai Ing-wen, who came into office last spring, supports legalizing same-sex marriage, and she has argued that doing so would strengthen society,” the leading U.S. newspaper wrote, adding that the issue also had won the support of politicians from all major opposition parties.

The New York Times quoted Democratic Progressive Party legislator Hsiao Bi-khim as saying that 56 out of 113 lawmakers are in favor, just one short to make it pass during the legislative session beginning next February after the Lunar New Year holiday.    [FULL  STORY][

Taip[ei Times
Date: Nov 27, 2016
By: Lee Hsin-fang / Staff reporter

The Coast Guard Administration and the Ministry of National Defense plan to conduct humanitarian

The Republic of China national flag flies on a low tower on Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island) on Jan. 27. Photo: Luo Tien-pin, Taipei Times

rescue exercises on Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) tomorrow, as part of President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) promise to turn the island into a humanitarian aid and resupply base, an official said yesterday.

The official, who declined to be named, said that exercises are intended to be a “soft” reassertion of national sovereignty over the island, increasing international awareness without increasing tensions in the South China Sea through “muscle flexing” focused on military power.

Coast Guard Director-General Lee Chung-wei (李仲威) is to attend, the official said.

Tsai declared the island would become a humanitarian rescue center on July 19 after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled it was legally a “rock,” and therefore not entitled to an exclusive economic zone.    [FULL  STORY]

‘If the KMT seeks to seriously put Terry Gou forward as a presidential candidate, that would only furtheraccentuate the party’s present political crisis.’

The News Lens
Date: 16/11/25
Date: Brian Hioe

The thought is a terrifying one: Terry Gou (郭台銘) as president of Taiwan? After the election of Donald

Photo Credit: Reuters/達志影像

Trump in 2016 American presidential elections, it seems nothing it out of the question in global politics anymore.

Some connect Trump’s victory to global trends, as indicative of the rise of right-wing populist movements across the world, whether as seen in the success of the Brexit vote in the U.K. or the recent uptick in election polling that Marine Le Pen of the French National Front has received. But the possibility of wealthy businessmen entering politics as Gou or Trump has been floated in numerous countries after the Trump victory, not just in Taiwan. This would be a testament to the tremendous influence of American politics on global politics.

Gou is a strong advocate of closer relations between Taiwan and China, as an industrial magnate whose business enterprises are run with collusion with both the (Chinese Communist Party) CCP and Kuomintang (KMT). As such, because of his cross-Strait business ties, Gou is sometimes seen as the quintessential Taishang. Indeed, as it is in his business interests for there to be closer ties between Taiwan and China, Gou has donated large sums of money to and campaigned for the KMT many times in the past.    [FULL  STORY]

The glass building at Taipei Circle is to be torn down to clear the way for a new park and historic attraction

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/11/25
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taipei Circle, also known as Chien-Cheng Circle (建成圓環), is being demolished by the city after falling

Taipei Circle being prepped for demolition(By Central News Agency)

into disuse for a decade.

Situated in the Datong District of Taipei, the current glass structure is to be razed at the cost of NT$2.5 million (US$78,304) and work will be completed in February, according to the Taipei Market Administration Office.

The glass building will make way for a park and an old reservoir below dating to the Second World War is to be preserved.

Plans for a roundabout between Nanjing West Road (南京西路) and Chongqing North Road (重慶北路), date back to 1899 during the Japanese colonial era, when it was originally designed to serve as a fish pond. In 1908, the Japanese government planted trees and converted it into a park, street food vendors started setting rolling in their carts to seek customers traversing in the bustling nexus of roads. As vendors and customers increasingly flocked to the areas, it soon evolved into the most popular night market in northern Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]