Taiwan Today
Date: August 24, 2016

Released Aug. 23 by TaiwanICDF, “Field Guide to the Plants of Solomon Islands” is based on research conducted by Taiwan scientists in the South Pacific archipelago nation since 2012. (Courtesy of TaiwanICDF)

Taipei City-based International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) launched the book “Field Guide to the Plants of Solomon Islands” Aug. 23, highlighting the organization’s ongoing efforts to support scientific research and sustainable development in the Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic ally.

Sponsored by the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the bilingual English-Chinese publication is the result of a TaiwanICDF project carried out since 2012 to survey the South Pacific archipelago nation’s plant resources, primarily focusing on its fern species.

“Large-scale crop cultivation is seriously threatening the country’s plant life,” said Chen Ai-chen, deputy secretary-general of TaiwanICDF. “The book will help locals gain a greater awareness of the value of their flora.”

The Solomon Islands, roughly 90 percent of which is covered by forests, is home to at least 7,000 native species, according to TaiwanICDF. A second book on the country’s plant life is scheduled to be published before the conclusion of the research mission in June next year.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/08/24
By: Chen Wen-ting, Chen Chia-lun, Hsieh Chia-chen, Lu Hsien-feng
and S.C. Chang

Taipei, Aug. 24 (CNA) The drastic decrease in the number of Chinese visitors to Taiwan this year has forced a Taipei travel agency to close and more are likely to follow, an industry insider said Wednesday.

Genesis Travel Agency (創世紀旅行社), which specializes in group tour services to visitors from China, announced Tuesday that it was closing down and its remaining bookings for eight Chinese tour groups would be taken over by the Travel Agent Association of R.O.C., Taiwan.

“We can no longer pay the fees that we owe you,” Genesis said in a Facebook post. “Please try to find a way to solve the problem.”

Genesis was ordered to cease operations after the Tourism Bureau confirmed that the agency’s checks had been bouncing, indicating that it was in financial straits.     [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: August 25, 2016
By: Joseph Yeh

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan military on Wednesday closed for the first time a main artery connecting

the Greater Taipei area with northeastern Yilan County, to test the armed forces’ ability to defend the capital city from Chinese invasion.

As part of the nation’s annual Han Kuang military exercises, the Hsuehshan Tunnel (雪山隧道) was closed from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday for a military drill that simulated a potential Chinese invasion from Yilan.

According to the Defense Ministry, the drill is intended to simulate a scenario in which Chinese forces take advantage of the Hsuehshan Tunnel to enter Taipei after landing at Yilan’s Lanyang Plain (蘭陽平原).

The Yilan-based Lanyang Command (蘭陽指揮部) under the 6th Army Corps in Northern Taiwan made used of a number of objects to prevent troops from entering the tunnel, including wave-dissipating concrete blocks, fuel drums, abandoned vehicles, containers, concrete mixer trucks and Jersey barriers.     [FULL  STORY]

Some Netizens are accusing fashion brand S.H In Taiwan of ignorance over a ‘sensitive’ political issue.

The News Lens
Date: 2016/08/23
By: Hsu Chia-yu

A new football shirt design launched by Taiwan fashion brand S.H In Taiwan on Aug. 14 has sparked controversy.

The design concept is “let the world know our country is Taiwan, not Chinese Taipei,” according to the company. However, the design has been criticized by netizens for incorporating the Republic of China (ROC) flag.

The idea for the jersey came from the Chinese Taipei team uniform at the 2016 Olympic Games. The shirt features the words “Chinese Taipei” — Taiwan’s official desgination at the Olympics and other international sporting events — with a red line crossing those words out and “Taiwan” written next to it. An additional badge, also using the pattern of the ROC flag and which can be added to the shirt, has also engendered criticism.

A netizen said that if the design aimed to rectify the name of Taiwan, then the ROC flag should not have been used. Another netizen said S.H In Taiwan should have done more research before designing a product with “political ideology.”     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-08-23
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

If you are a first-timer in Taiwan, starting from August 3, when you are walking on the street, you might encounter long or small tables set up in front of residential complexes, office buildings, or inside a tent on a street with a variety of offerings on the tables, from cookies, cakes, roasted chicken, fish, pork, to beverages. And you would see a bunch of people, dressed either casual or formal, standing next to the offerings, holding incense sticks, and looking into the sky, or the street, with prayers for blessings. Expect this scene if you travel to Taiwan between late July and early September each year.

It is known as the Pudu Rite and is traditionally held between noon and evening; the date of performing the rite can be any day of the Ghost Month. At some Taoist temples, you might feel not comfortable with seeing a whole pig carcass on their offering tables, though such a scene has been seen less and less over the past few years in response to a growing awareness of animal welfare issues.     [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 24, 2016
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter

Scuffles broke out yesterday as two Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) members who attempted to

interrupt the Taipei-Shanghai Forum at the Regent Taipei hotel were detained in the hotel by police before being taken away.

About 30 TSU members rallied in front of the hotel before the forum started, demanding that the Chinese delegation led by Shanghai Municipal Committee United Front Work Department Director Sha Hailin (沙海林) leave Taiwan.

Saying that all official ties have been suspended by Beijing after the Democratic Progressive Party became the ruling party in May, former TSU legislator Chou Ni-an (周倪安) said that Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) could have reached surreptitious agreements with China to get the delegation to agree to participate in the forum.

“Acknowledge ‘one China’ if you want to carry out exchanges. This is what China said. Did you [Ko] acknowledge it? What did you say on Taipei residents’ behalf?” Chou said.

The protesters tore up two large photographs of Ko and Sha, and set them on fire.     [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: August 24, 2016
By: Stephanie Chao

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Former Mega Financial Holding Co. (兆豐金控) Chairman Mckinney Tsai was

barred from leaving the country Tuesday, after he was summoned for questioning over his alleged involvement in the Mega International Commercial Bank (兆豐銀行) money laundering scandal.

Tsai, summoned by prosecutors for questioning Tuesday afternoon, was listed as a suspect in the case and restricted from leaving the country.

Tsai resigned as Cathay Financial Holding Co. (國泰金控) chairman Tuesday afternoon, President Lee Chang-ken confirmed.

Tsai said he did not want to “disturb” Cathay Financial Holding Co. due to his alleged involvement in the Mega Bank money laundering scandal, Lee told local media.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers demanded a thorough investigation into the case Tuesday, blasting the bank for covering up illegal activity since 2013.     [FULL  STORY]

The News Lens
Date: 2016/08/22
By: Austin Chad Willhoft

The Taiwan Animal Protection Party is striving to raise more public awareness of animal rights

through politics.

The Taiwan Animal Protection Party was officially founded on Aug. 8 as the first political party in Taiwan focusing on pushing the government to create and amend current animal welfare laws.
The coalition consists of more than 300 members including businesspeople, students, animal shelter owners, taxi drivers and Buddhist monks. The group believes every animal deserves equal rights and the Animal Protection Act needs to be amended.
Although there are various shelters and associations helping animals in Taiwan, there was no political party devoted to animal welfare — most existing political parties only support general animal wellbeing.
Dr. Cheng Huei-yuan (鄭惠元) and Hua Pei-jun (華珮君) announced their intention to establish a legitimate political party in late April to assist all animals, not only stray dogs and cats.     [FULL  STORY]