‘INCOMPREHENSIBLE’: Justin Huang is not a qualified candidate due to controversy when he served as a county commissioner, the DPP deputy secretary-general said

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 20, 2020
By: Chen Yun / Staff reporter

The Presidential Office yesterday called off a news conference to announce President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) nominations for Control Yuan members an hour before its scheduled start, after one of the nominees sparked cross-party criticism.

Reports on Thursday cited sources as revealing that the nominees would include former Presidential Office secretary-general Chen Chu (陳菊) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as president and former Taitung County commissioner Justin Huang (黃健庭) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) as vice president.

The Control Yuan is the government branch responsible for investigating and disciplining public servants and agencies. It consists of 29 members who are appointed by the president and approved by the legislature every six years.

DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) on Facebook yesterday urged Tsai to reconsider Huang’s nomination, saying that while political affiliation was not a factor, Huang is not a qualified candidate due to past controversy when he served as county commissioner.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio T&aiwan International
Date: 18 June, 2020
By: Paula Chao

[What is it like to be black in Taiwan?]

Just two days after a solidarity rally was held in support of Black Lives Matter, a popular group of local YouTubers posted a video of themselves in blackface. While the group has posted an apology, the incident has highlighted a major gap in understanding.

In today’s show, we speak with two of the organizers of last Saturday’s rally, Stefanie Davis and Toi Windham, to find out what it is like to be black in Taiwan.     [FULL  STORY]

India Today
Date: June 18, 2020
By: Sunil Bhat 

As the entire nation pays tributes to the 20 bravehearts who laid their lives at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, chorus is growing for a strong retaliatory action against China. While paying homage to the soldiers killed in Galwan, activists of Dogra Front in Jammu urged the government to give a befitting reply to China.

The activists of Dogra Front and locals in Jammu showered flowers on the pictures of the soldiers who were killed in the violent clash with Chinese soldiers on Monday night. They also lit candles as a mark of respect for the slain soldiers.

Speaking to India Today TV, President of Dogra Front Ashok Gupta said that time has come to cut all trade ties with China. "We must boycott Chinese products and goods. We need to hurt China economically. We can't allow China to earn money from India," Ashok Gupta told India Today TV.

Many activists who were present at the occasion also appealed to the Modi government to take strong stand action against China. "We must support Tibet's independence. Our government must provide moral and diplomatic support to Tibet's cause. Yesterday, a beautiful picture appeared in a Taiwanese newspaper where Lord Ram was shown shooting an arrow at the Chinese dragon. We must recognise Taiwan as a sovereign independent nation," said Abhishek Gupta, a young activist while speaking to India Today TV.
[FULL  STORY]

Men siphoned off confidential information at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mainland Affairs Council

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/06/18
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Three Taiwanese men who have worked for three separate ruling and opposition party legislators between 2014 and 2018 were taken into custody Thursday (June 17) on espionage charges, with one released on bail.

According to media reports, the three siphoned off confidential information about personnel appointments and the minutes of meetings through local political reporters. This information was then passed on to Chinese officials over the course of four years.

To achieve their ends, the men treated the correspondents, who were mainly responsible for covering the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), to dinners. The correspondents were reportedly unaware of the scam but, even so, provided useful information.

One of the suspects, Lee Yi-chien (李易諴) worked for Chang Li-shan (張麗善), a Yunlin County magistrate who served as a Kuomintang (KMT) legislator between 2016 and 2018. Another, Chen Wei-ren (陳惟仁), worked for KMT legislator Chen Shu-hui (陳淑慧) between 2014 and 2018 as an office assistant. The third, Lin Yun-ta (林雍達), was employed by Chen Chin-ting (陳進丁) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from 2014 to 2018.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 06/18/2020
By: Chen Wei-ting and Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, June 18 (CNA) A man who returned from Bangladesh last week has been diagnosed with COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in Taiwan to 446, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Thursday.

The new patient, in his 60s, had been working in Bangladesh since January and flew to Malaysia on June 12 before returning to Taiwan the following day, CECC spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said at a press conference.

On the flight from Malaysia, the man sat one row in front of a couple, who were also returning to Taiwan from Bangladesh and were diagnosed Monday with COVID-19, Chuang said.

Upon arrival in Taiwan, the man did not report any symptoms, and he went directly from the airport into mandatory 14-day home isolation, Chuang said.    [FULL  STORY]

RAIDS AND QUESTIONING: The two former KMT lawmakers for whom the three aides worked told reporters that they had not been in contact with them for years

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 19, 2020
By: Jason Pan / Staff reporter

Two former legislative assistants were detained yesterday after being questioned by Taipei prosecutors about their alleged involvement collecting classified materials and meeting minutes from the Legislative Yuan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Mainland Affairs Council, and passing on lists of government personnel and reporters to Chinese intelligence officials.

A third suspect was released on bail after questioning.

The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Lee Yi-hsien (李易諴), Chen Wei-jen (陳惟仁) and Lin Yung-ta (林雍達) were questioned following raids conducted by prosecutors and officers from the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau’s National Security Operations Division.

The trio allegedly passed material to Chinese Ministry of State Security officials while working as aides to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers between 2014 and 2018.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 17 June, 2020
By: Shirley Lin

Taiwan is set to open its borders to students from eleven countries and territories attending Taiwanese universities during the fall semester.

These eleven countries and territories are seen as places where the risk of contracting COVID-19 is low. They are: Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Palau, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Fiji, Mongolia, and Bhutan.    [FULL  STORY]

Wednesday's incident featured J-10 fighter jet, Shaanxi Y-8 transport plane

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/06/17
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Chinese J-10 fighter jet and a Shaanxi Y-8 military transport plane had to be chased out of Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the fourth incident of its kind in two weeks, the Air Force said Wednesday (June 17).

Only the previous day, another J-10 also crossed into Taiwan's airspace, with each incursion occurring off the island's southwest coast, not so far from Kaohsiung City, CNA reported.

Around noon Wednesday, a J-10 and a Shaanxi Y-8 entered the same area but were intercepted by a Taiwanese Air Force patrol broadcasting a warning that they should leave immediately, which they did, a military news release said.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 06/17/2020
By: Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, June 17 (CNA) Business travelers arriving from certain countries will be allowed to apply to shorten the length of their mandatory 14-day quarantine upon entering Taiwan from June 22, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday.

Taiwan has banned entry to most foreign nationals since March 19 to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, with the exception of those who hold Alien Resident Certificates (ARCs) or documents proving that they are in Taiwan for diplomatic or other official purposes, or to fulfill business contracts.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) announced the change at the CECC's weekly press briefing and unveiled the list of countries and zones from which arriving travelers will be eligible for shortened quarantine.

To apply for the shortened quarantine, Chen said travelers must have received permission to enter Taiwan, plan to spend less than three months in the country, and visit with the purpose of conducting short-term business activities such as product inspection, after-sales service, technical training or contract-signing.    [FULL  STORY]