TRAVEL: Students and business travelers from 11 nations and areas would be allowed entry, but the KMT said those from some parts of China should also have been included

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 18, 2020
By: Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday announced four criteria for foreign students and short-term business travelers from 11 countries and areas with a lower COVID-19 risk who want to apply for a shortened quarantine period upon arrival in Taiwan. The list does not include China.

About 1,100 Chinese students enrolled at National Tsing Hua University and Shih Hsin University earlier this month launched an online petition to the Minsitry of Education to allow them to resume their studies in the nation.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the center, said that the relaxing of border controls would begin by allowing entry to foreign travelers from lower-risk countries and areas, adding that eligibility could be expanded depending on the actual effects and management capability after the policy is implemented.

Travelers would be eligible for entry if they are applying to stay in Taiwan for less than three months; are participating in short-term business activities, such as examining goods, providing after-sales services, technical support and training, or signing a contract; are departing from countries or areas designated by the CECC as low to medium-low infection risk; and have not visited other countries or areas within 14 days of their departure.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 16 June, 2020
By: Paula Chao

The Cabinet says the government does not ban diplomats stationed abroad from using the word “Taiwan” on their business cards. That was the word from Cabinet spokesman Ting Yi-ming on Tuesday.

Ting was responding to a local media report that implied the foreign ministry has imposed such a ban. The report said the foreign ministry had directions for embassies regarding the use of symbols like Taiwan’s national flag and national flower on the front of business cards, but there was no mention on the use of the word “Taiwan.”  

Ting said the government has used the “Republic of China (Taiwan)” in its diplomatic correspondence with countries that maintain official diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The Republic of China is Taiwan’s official name.    [FULL  STORY]

Not as good as the F-15?

The National Intertest
Date: June 16, 2020
By: Kris Osborn

Chinese Su-30 fighters entered the Soutwestern airspace of Taiwan in early June as part of a rather transparent, deliberate warning to the U.S. and Taiwan that China was ready to attack if needed. The flights, as described in a report from the Global Times, were sent as a message following continued military-to-military cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan, U.S. transport aircraft flights over Taiwan and the passage of a U.S. Destroyer through the Taiwan Straits. 

The People’s Liberation Army Su-30 fighter jets flew over Taiwan just one day after a U.S. military aircraft flew over the island to, as Chinese officials reportedly told the Global Times, “counter the provocative move by the U.S. military aircraft.” 

The Su-30s are Russian-built fighters in service with the PLA since the early 2000s, it’s described as having long-endurance, advanced passive electronically-scanned array radar systems, infrared search and track, a reconnaissance pod, targeting sensors and medium-range air-to-air-missiles. Interestingly, some have likened the Su-30 to the U.S, F-15, despite the fact that the Su-30 emerged roughly 15 years later. Despite its 1980s origins, there are many reasons why today’s upgraded F-15 may in fact be equivalent if not superior to the more modern Su-30s. While the original F-15 airframe may have emerged from the 1980s, the 2020 U.S. F-15 is essentially an entirely new airplane. 

The Air Force currently operates roughly 400 F-15C, D and E variants—and plans to keep the aircraft flying into the 2040s. In recent years, the F-15 has been in the process of receiving new weapons, electronic warfare systems, infrared search and track, radar and high-speed computing technology to massively improve the performance characteristics of the aircraft. Upgraded F-15 are in the process of operating with Active Electronically Scanned Array radar and an electronic warfare system called EPAWSS, the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System.     [FULL  STORY]

Stimulant has taken off in popularity in Taiwan over past few years

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/06/16
By: Chris Chang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — On May 18 Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) seized about three tons of ingredients used for the illegal drug Mephedrone at Taichung Port and arrested four suspects.

Mephedrone, nicknamed "meow meow" or "bubble," has been one of the most popular drugs in Taiwan in recent years. People usually mix mephedrone with various other drugs into coffee sachets, and it is rumored to be difficult to detect through urine analysis.

Classified as a stimulant, Mephedrone can lead to feelings of ecstasy but can also trigger paranoia, heart palpitations, and damage to the nasal passages. It is a purely recreational drug with no medicinal use.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 06/16/2020
By: Yang Su-min and Chiang Yi-ching

Taipei, June 16 (CNA) Taiwan and the offshore counties of Penghu and Matsu have been officially declared a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) free zone where vaccination is not practiced, Taiwan's Council of Agriculture (COA) announced Tuesday.

The COA and President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) made the announcement via Facebook late Tuesday, saying the decision was approved by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

COA head Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) confirmed the news to a CNA reporter.

The declaration is expected to facilitate the resumption of fresh pork exports from Taiwan after a 24-year hiatus.    [FULL  STORY]

TIPPED OFF: The CECC was following up after being told that the couple who tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday did not wear protective clothing on their flight

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 17, 2020
By: Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

The government is to adopt differ6ent disease prevention measures to regulate the entry of business travelers and international tourists once the borders are reopened, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said yesterday.

Chen, who heads the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), was speaking at a seminar hosted by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Mark Ho (何志偉).

The center is considering shortening the quarantine time for business travelers — including trade, technology and healthcare professionals — from 14 days to between five and 10 days, Chen said.

Before business travelers are allowed to enter the nation, they must present immigration officials with a polymerase chain reaction screening certificate showing that they tested negative for COVID-19 before arrival, Chen said.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 15 June, 2020
By: Natalie Tso

School campuses in Taipei are set to reopen to the public on June 20, now that COVID-19 has been contained. Campuses have been closed due to pandemic precautions, which have kept almost everyone other than teachers, students and workers off campus. 

Taipei Deputy Mayor Huang Shan-shan says that with the outbreak slowing, campuses can now be opened to the public so that people can use them for exercise. Citizens can also apply to use classrooms and other facilities.     [FULL  STORY]

The Republic of China Air Force plans to procure at least 66 AT-5s to equip two training units

Asia Times
Date: June 15, 2020
By: Dave Makichuk

Taiwan’s indigenous aircraft industry has taken a big step forward, as the first prototype of the Taiwanese AT-5 advanced jet trainer (AJT) has flown for the first time, AINonline reported.

The maiden flight of the first of two flying prototypes took place on June 10 at Ching Chuan Kang air base, perfectly in tune with the development schedule announced last year, the Ministry of National Defense announced.

Built by the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, the AT-5 prototype flew for around 20 minutes, with its undercarriage extended throughout the flight, the report said.

It was escorted by two examples of the two-seat F-CK-1D chase planes upon which the AT-5 is based.    [FULL  STORY]

Hundreds show solidarity with black people in US, while rally in Taipei also asks people to look at their own prejudices

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/06/15
By: By Jules Quartly, Taiwan News, Contributing Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — There was a positive and peaceful vibe at the Taiwan Black Lives Matter rally held on Saturday (June 13) at 228 Peace Memorial Park in Taipei.

A crowd of about 500 people — black, white, and all shades between — applauded the speeches and knelt to show their respect for George Floyd, the man murdered by police in the United States, whose case kicked off weeks of worldwide demonstrations against brutality and inequality. Unlike in the U.S. or other Western countries, there were no riots, looting, or face-offs with the police.

The following interview directly expresses the views of two individuals at the rally and their impressions of the BLM movement, in Taiwan:

Carlo JaMelle, from the U.S. state of Arkansas, revealed his given surname as "Harris," describing it as the slave name his family was handed down. He has lived in Taiwan for 20 years and is a PhD candidate at National Taiwan Normal University, with a passion for hip hop and ancient Chinese literati culture.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 06/15/2020
By: Flor Wang and Chen Wei-ting

Taipei, June 15 (CNA) Taiwan reported two more imported COVID-19 cases on Monday, while maintaining zero local transmission for 64 days, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

The two new cases identified as foreign acquired were the first ones since June 1, when a woman returning from the United States was confirmed as having contracted the novel coronavirus, the CECC said in a press release.

The two patients, a husband and wife, flew to Bangladesh for work in late January and early March, respectively, before flying together to Malaysia on June 12 and returning to Taiwan the next day.

The husband, in his 50s, developed a fever, cough, sore throat, muscle pains and a loss of smell on May 23 while still in Bangladesh, the CECC said.    [FULL  STORY]