‘OPERATION DECAPITATION’:The MND said that China’s plans for attack would begin with threats and culminate in mounting airborne and amphibious landings for invasion

Taipei Times
Date:  Sep 01, 2015
By: Jason Pan  /  Staff reporter

China continues to target Taiwan for attack and invasion in the event of conflict, and Beijing is

likely to declare a South China Sea air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the near future to bolster its claim on the islets and reefs in the region, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said.

According to MND reports released yesterday, Beijing convened high-level meetings to re-evaluate its cross-strait policies following last year’s Sunflower movement and related protests by Taiwanese against the government’s move to force a cross-strait service trade agreement with China through the legislature.

The report said China is concerned about the outcome of Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections in January next year, and its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has therefore conducted a series of military drills in recent months simulating an invasion of Taiwan, known as “Operation Decapitation,” in which airborne paratroopers and special forces practiced descending on the Presidential Office Building in Taipei City in a rapid assault.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-08-30
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Local authorities in Tainan have again ordered an immediate suspension of the Ximenting

Flea Market after it was found to be operating over the weekend despite the city’s ordinance calling for sanitation and hygiene improvements, reports said Sunday.

In the midst of the dengue fever epidemic, health authorities discovered that a large percentage of the patients are current residents around the flea market area. On August 1, the market was ordered to cease its operation and pending clearance from the city’s department of public health.

As an act of defiance, shop owners resumed their day-to-day business on Saturday, but were later met with government officials, who warned operators that further non-compliance will results in the market being torn down, reports said.

Tainan Mayor William Lai was also present during the Sunday bust, accompanied by officials from the city’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Public Works Department.

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/08/30
By: Meng-ju Lin and Lillian Lin

Chiayi, Aug. 30 (CNA) More than 6,000 ducks on a poultry farm in Chiayi County in southern

Taiwan were culled because epidemic prevention authorities detected the H5N8 avian flu virus in dead ducks at the farm.

An official from the Council of Agriculture said Sunday that some 200 ducks in the poultry farm were found dead over the past few days. To prevent the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, the epidemic prevention authorities decided to cull all the ducks at the farm.

While none of the other 13 poultry farms within a one kilometer radius had been found to be contaminated by the bird flu virus, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine is tracing the origin of the outbreak by checking poultry farms that raise hatchlings in the neighboring county of Yunlin.     [FULL  STORY]

Want China Times
Date: 2015-08-30
By: CNA

A former People’s Liberation Army officer Zhen Xiaojiang and the spy ring he recruited who

were indicted by the Taipei District prosecutors for violating Taiwan’s National Security Act will be sentenced on Sept. 1.

After months of investigations, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office found that Zhen came to Taiwan in the name of sightseeing but had actually sought to develop a network for espionage.

Zhen was found to have recruited, among others, retired ROC major-general Hsu Nai-chuan, who had run for the Kinmen County Magistrate’s office but failed, and retired air force colonel Chou Chih-li.     [FULL  STORY]

CORE VALUES:Ko said that without the Sunflower movement and the death of Hung Tzu-yung’s brother, he would never have launched his political career

Taipei Times
Date:  Aug 31, 2015
By: Ou Su-mei  /  Staff reporter

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday told New Power Party legislative candidate Hung

Tzu-yung (洪慈庸) that it is more important to adhere to her beliefs than to propose policies in the run-up to next year’s legislative election.

Ko made the remark while attending a forum at Hung’s campaign office in Taichung.

‘white force’

Saying that he was at one point a fan of Hung, Ko called on the public to express their support for the “white force” — political novices — to change Taiwan for the better.

Ko praised Hung for managing to remain collected in facing challenges after being confronted with the death of her brother, army corporal Hung Chung-chiu (洪仲丘).     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-08-29
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President Ma Ying-jeou added his voice Saturday to the chorus of

critics of former Vice President Lien Chan, saying he should not be going to China to watch its September 3 World War II victory parade.

After Lien, who has visited China several times, announced he would be attending the event marking the 70th anniversary of the victory over Japan, several government and political leaders criticized his decision. Government departments and Kuomintang Vice Chairman Hau Lung-bin said no Taiwanese leaders should be present because Beijing presented the victory as solely a communist achievement, neglecting the KMT’s participation in the war.

As the president visited the Taipei City Council Saturday, reporters as usual tried to question him about current news. In contrast to usual practice, Ma actually stopped to answer a question about Lien’s latest China plans.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/08/29
By: P. C. Tsai and Lillian Lin

Taipei, Aug. 29 (CNA) A former People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officer Zhen Xiaojiang (鎮小江) and the spy ring he recruited who were indicted by the Taipei District prosecutors for violating the National Security Act will be sentenced on Sept. 1.

After months of investigations, the Taipei District Prosecutors’Office found that Zhen came to Taiwan in the name of sight-seeing but had actually sought to develop a network for espionage.

Zhen was found to have recruited, among others, a retired army major-general Hsu Nai-chuan (許乃權), who had run for the Kinmen County Magistrate’s office, but failed, and a retired air force colonel Chou Chih-li (周自立).     [FULL  STORY]

Want China Times
Date: 2015-08-29
By: CNA

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on Friday urged its retired generals and soldiers not to

attend upcoming events being held in Beijing to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

In a statement, the defense ministry said it issued the appeal to protect the country’s dignity and avoid any misunderstanding of their moves.

The ministry’s remarks came amid reports that Beijing has sent invitations to Republic of China (ROC) veterans to attend a series of events marking the anniversary of the war, also known as the War of Resistance against Japan (1937-1945), including a large-scale military parade at Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the ROC’s victory in the eight-year war against Japan. That war was also a part of World War II, in which Japan and the other Axis Powers were defeated by the Allied Powers in 1945.      [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 30, 2015
By: Lee Hsin-fang  /  Staff reporter

While former vice president Lien Chan (連戰) drew fire from across party lines for his decision

to attend a military parade in Beijing, Shi Hsin University professor Wang Hsiao-po (王曉波) yesterday voiced support for the trip.

“I do not think there is anything wrong with Lien’s decision [to attend the event] since he currently holds no government or party positions,” said Wang, who also served as the convener of the Ministry of Education’s controversial curriculum adjustment task force.

“Plus, I think he might intend to convince the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] to work with Taiwan to rewrite history textbooks,” he said.

Wang praised Lien for his trip to China in 2005, ending the warring status between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the CCP, saying that he deserves merit for his contributions in cross-strait relations and the Chinese nation.

The contribution that Lien is expected to make during this trip is still unknown, Wang said, adding that he believes Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) might make a major announcement that would make Lien’s trip worthwhile.     [FULL  STORY]