Focus Taiwan
Date: 07/22/2020
By: Chang Ming-hsuan,
Chen Wei-ting and Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, July 22 (CNA) The Taiwan government will allocate NT$18.7 billion (US$635.6 million) for the development or procurement of a COVID-19 vaccine, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday.

Of that amount, NT$13.5 billion will be be spent on research and development in Taiwan or procurement of a vaccine from an overseas source, while NT$5.2 billion will be held as reserve fund, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the CECC.

He said the government will provide information Thursday how vaccine makers can apply for the funding.

In terms of the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, three Taiwanese firms have applied for permission to carry out human trials, Chen said, adding that that the government is willing to issue emergency use authorizations (EUAs) to streamline the approval process for high-potential vaccine candidates.    [FULL  STORY]

RANDOMLY SELECTED: National judges must be Republic of China citizens, aged at least 23 and have been a resident within a court’s jurisdiction for at least four months

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 23, 2020
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter

Following a 36-hour review, the National Judge Act (國民法官法) yesterday cleared the legislative floor, providing the legal basis for a lay judge system for criminal offenses, which is expected to go into effect in January 2023.

The act mandates that lay judges, termed “national judges” in the act, take part in the review of cases of crimes warranting a prison term of at least 10 years or premeditated crimes that resulted in death.

Three career judges and six national judges would form the collegiate bench for the reviews, the act states.

A guilty verdict would require the consent of career and national judges, and at least two-thirds of all of the members of the bench — otherwise, the bench should acquit or rule in favor of the defendant, it states.   [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 21 July, 2020
By: Katherine Wei

Shopping agents may be fined up to NT$3 million if they bring in too much goods.[/caption] In the age of the Internet, online shopping is so convenient that a few clicks on your mouse will have furniture, small appliances, toys and even groceries sent to your doorstep. 

But Taiwan really takes borderless shopping to a new level. Here, it is very common to place an order goods online and have professional shoppers bring them into Taiwan for you! This is getting a little out of hand, the government says.

There’s cup ramen from Japan, cute pens from South Korea and stationery that’s also from Japan. Some of these popular items aren’t sold in Taiwan, but if you want them enough, there are people who can get them to you. 

Professional shopping agents travel to Japan, Korea and other countries to buy goods that are popular among Taiwanese people. They make a profit by selling cosmetic products, instant coffee, cookies and more at a slightly higher price. But for those in this business, the government has a new law that bans them from bringing in more than six kilograms of edible goods in one day.     [FULL  STORY]

The Hill
Date: 07/21/20
By: Joseph Bosco, Opinion Contributor

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE THEIR OWN AND NOT THE VIEW OF THE HILL

The U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier battle groups are the most dramatic symbol of American military and geopolitical power. They were critical to winning World War II in the Pacific and they have since been deployed in the Indo-Pacific to communicate U.S. resolve against potential adversaries.

The presence or absence of the Seventh Fleet — the configuration of Navy ships and aircraft in the Indo-Pacific built around the carriers — generally determines whether war or peace prevails in the region. In the immediate post-war period, Washington’s strategic planners in the Truman administration shockingly determined that America’s Pacific security perimeter could exclude Taiwan and South Korea.

Washington’s civilian and military leaders then — Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Gen. Douglas MacArthur — conveyed that lack of strategic concern by pointing out lines on a map and backing up the perverse decision by withdrawing the Navy from the Taiwan Strait and the immediate environs. The communist dictators in Moscow, Beijing and Pyongyang welcomed what they saw as a green light for aggression, and the Korean War was on.

President Harry Truman, rueing his administration’s grievous mistake, announced, “[T]he occupation of Formosa by Communist forces would be a direct threat to the security of the Pacific area and to United States forces performing their lawful and necessary functions in that area. Accordingly, I have ordered the 7th Fleet to prevent any attack on Formosa. As a corollary of this action, I am calling upon the Chinese Government on Formosa to cease all air and sea operations against the mainland. The 7th Fleet will see that this is done.”   [FULL  STORY]

Local health authorities trying to identify cause of infection for 1st local Dengue fever case

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/07/21
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's health authorities reported three new Japanese encephalitis cases on Tuesday (July 21), bringing the total to 16 this year; meanwhile, the year's first indigenous Dengue fever case was recorded in Taoyuan.

The three patients are a man in his 60s from Zhongli District in Taoyuan City, a woman in her 30s from Xinzhuang District in New Taipei City, and a man in his 50s from Wuchi District in Taichung. They began displaying symptoms of fever, dizziness, headache, and altered consciousness on June 28, July 7, and July 8, respectively, before going to the hospital.

The two patients in northern Taiwan remain hospitalized, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said.

Among the 16 infected nationwide this year with Japanese encephalitis, four have been recorded in Taoyuan City, and two each in New Taipei City, Taichung City, Changhua County, Kaohsiung City, and Pingtung City. Chiayi County and Tainan City have both recorded one case.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 07/21/2020
By: Wang Cheng-chung and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, July 21 (CNA) The Control Yuan announced Tuesday that it has impeached two military personnel for negligence in weather reporting that was partly responsible for a Black Hawk helicopter crash in January that resulted in the deaths of eight military officers, including the nation's top military commander, Chief of the General Staff Shen Yi-ming (沈一鳴).

The government watchdog agency said it passed a motion to impeach Jen I-wei (任亦偉), chief of the weather center at the Air Force Weather Wing's No. 8 Base; and Chou Shih-kai (周士凱), an officer at the same center.

The decision to impeach Jen was passed by an 8-1 vote while that of Chou was passed 6-3, according to the Control Yuan.

The cases will now be handed over to the Judicial Yuan's Public Functionary Disciplinary Sanction Commission for a decision on what punishment they should receive.   [FULL  STORY]

NETWORK FUNCTIONS: Using Huawei’s inverters could create a security loophole, allowing Chinese hackers to meddle with Taiwan’s power supply, sources said

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 22, 2020
By: Peng Wan-hsin and Dennis Xie / Staff reporter, with staff writer

A Republic of China (ROC) Military Academy project to install solar panels on its campus has reportedly been subcontracted to a company that is affiliated with China’s Huawei Technologies Co (華為), which was also found to have installed solar panels atop a building at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, sparking concern over national security.

While the US and several European countries, as well as public agencies in Taiwan, have banned Huawei due to data security risks, the Chinese-language Apple Daily yesterday reported that it had received an anonymous tip that a construction project at the military academy in Kaohsiung has been subcontracted to New Green Power Co (永鑫能源), a distributor of power inverters manufactured by Huawei.

Although public bidding on the project in July last year was won by Cheng Yang Energy Co (承陽能源), it outsourced the project to New Green Power, sources said.

The report also said that arrays of solar panels on top of the Legislative Yuan’s Zhenjiang House (鎮江會館) on Zhenjiang Street are connected to an array of power inverters bearing “Green Power Co” and “Made in China” labels, as well as Huawei’s logo.   [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 20 July, 2020
By: Katherine Wei

Taiwan’s legislature is set to vote this week on motions to change the name of national air carrier China Airlines and the cover of the Republic of China passports. 

Pro-independence groups have been vocal about these motions. They are pushing for lawmakers to remove “China” from the name of Taiwan’s state-owned airline They also want to change the words on passport covers from “the Republic of China” to “Taiwan”, and remove  the party emblem of the main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT).. 

Proponents say the changes will reduce the likelihood that people will confuse Taiwan as being China. 

The renaming motions are likely to be another point of contention between the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition KMT. Already, three fights have broken out between the ruling and opposition lawmakers since the current extraordinary legislative session began on July 1.     [FULL  STORY]

Real Clear World
Date: July 20, 2020
By: Maseh Zarif

Thirty-eight years ago, American diplomat James Lilley undertook a sensitive mission in Taipei on behalf of U.S. President Ronald Reagan. On July 14, 1982, the head of the de-facto American embassy conveyed to Taiwanese President Chiang Ching-Kuo what became known as the “six assurances” that help guide U.S.-Taiwan relations on issues of sovereignty and defense. The assurances, and Lilley's visit to the Taiwanese president's home to deliver them, signaled Wasington's commitment to Taiwan’s security.

Reagan’s message for Taiwan as he negotiated with China was clear: America would not abandon Taiwan even as Washington pursued diplomatic relations with Beijing. The gesture also underscored that the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, a feat of Congressional leadership on foreign affairs, would remain the cornerstone for robust cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan.

The United States is now navigating a new strategic shift to confront the Chinese Communist Party’s growing threat to America’s vital interests, which include the geopolitical makeup of the Indo-Pacific region. Changes are in order, but so too is a measure of continuity in the ongoing project to deepen the bonds between the United States and Taiwan.

Specifically, the U.S. Congress should work with the Trump administration in the coming weeks and months to solidify bilateral ties with Taiwan, strengthen Taiwan’s defense posture, and shore up Taipei’s role in shaping an international system conducive to shared American and Taiwanese values and interests.    [FULL  STORY]

75.2 percent of those surveyed agree Taiwan should resume military conscription

 Taiwan News
Date: 2020/07/20
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As many as 75.2 percent of those who took a recent survey carried out by ETtoday agree with the proposition that Taiwan should resume military conscription instead of continuing a voluntary recruitment policy.

50.8 percent strongly agree with the proposition, 24.4 percent slightly agree, 12 percent slightly disagree, 5.9 percent totally disagree, and 7 percent have no opinion, per China Times.

Taiwan used to have a conscription system, which mandated that males over the age of 18 serve two years in the military.

As the tensions between the United States and China continue to rise, the situation across the Taiwan Strait has become more treacherous. Some scholars even predict that war across the Strait could break out within three years, according to the report.    [FULL  STORY]