A bilateral trade deal between Taiwan and the United States would reinforce US support for the democratic island in the face of "unrelenting intimidation" from China, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Friday 4 December.

The Pig Site
Date: 4 December 2020
By: The Pig Site

Reuters reports that Taiwan claimed by China as its own territory, has long angled for a trade deal with its most important diplomatic and military backer, and in August Tsai announced a relaxation on imports of US pork and beef, removing a stumbling block.

In a recorded message to the American Legislative Exchange Council, having received its International Pioneer Award for Leadership, Tsai said that with Taiwan's reliance on trade, the island had to strengthen economic ties with trading partners.

"Therefore, I look forward to making progress on a bilateral trade agreement with the United States, our second-largest trading partner and most important security ally," she said.

Tsai said she was thankful for bipartisan support from US politicians for such a deal.

"Such an agreement would further enhance our close economic and trade partnership, and also reinforce America's support for Taiwan in the face of unrelenting intimidation from across the Strait," she added.    [FULL  STORY]

Ban on Fukushima foods an obstacle for Taiwan’s bid to join CPTTP

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/12/04
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Health authorities have refuted rumors Friday (Dec. 4) that Taiwan will lift a ban on foods from areas in Japan affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster by March next year.

Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said no such plans are being discussed, but admitted the issue has been revived every time the two sides hold negotiations, reported CNA.

The minister made the remark in response to reports that Japan is eyeing Taiwan removing the relevant restrictions by March 11, 2021, the 10th anniversary of the catastrophe. Currently, food and agricultural products from Japan's Fukushima, Ibaraki, Gunma, Tochigi and Chiba prefectures are prohibited from entering Taiwan.

The ban was introduced by the Kuomintang (KMT) government over food safety concerns related to radioactive contamination. Since Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) came to power in 2016, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has sought to scrap the restrictions — but to no avail due to fierce opposition.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 12/04/2020
By: Flor Wang and Tang Pei-chun

Brussels, Dec. 4 (CNA) European Parliament Vice President Nicola Beer has expressed an interest in visiting Taiwan as soon as travel conditions permit to show support for Taiwan at a time when China's threat against it is growing.

Beer made her interest known in a video conference with Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥), Taiwan's representative to the European Union (EU) and Belgium, on Thursday.

In the virtual meeting, Beer voiced her support for Taiwan and Hong Kong, and pre-recorded talks by Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) were broadcast, with Tsai inviting Beer to Taiwan.

In an email response to CNA later Thursday, Beer's office said she would visit Taiwan "as soon as the COVID-19 context allows this."    [FULL  STORY]

RULES IGNORED: CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang said that crew members who break the rules would be required to complete the full 14-day quarantine

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 04, 2020
By: Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

Three EVA Airways flight attendants were fired last month and this month after they failed to follow the government’s quarantine requirements.

This was the first time that flight attendants have lost their jobs for quarantine failures.

One flight attendant reportedly breached the quarantine mandate by going to school, visiting relatives and dining with friends, while lying to the company about her activities, EVA Air said.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) have established disease prevention measures for cabin crew members, such as monitoring their health and reporting their temperature daily, the company said.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 03 December, 2020
By: Paula Chao

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party says Taiwan should consider upgrading its mechanism for supporting Hong Kong citizens. That was the word from the party Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan on Thursday.

Lin’s comments came a day after leading Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong and two others were thrown into jail. Wong was sentenced to 13 months and a half in prison for illegal assembly.    [FULL  STORY]

Digital upgrade, access to key materials at top of agenda

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/12/03
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Thursday (Dec. 3) pledged to push ahead with the transformation of Taiwan’s healthcare sector as the country strives to sharpen its competitive edge internationally.

Tsai made the promise during a speech at the opening ceremony of the Healthcare+ Expo Taiwan 2020 in Taipei. The showcase, now in its fourth year, has emerged as the sixth-largest international expo in Taiwan and an important platform for exchanges related to medical technologies, she noted.

Tsai set forth two objectives that need to be attained quickly. One is the digital transformation of Taiwan’s healthcare industry, made ever more pressing by the coronavirus pandemic. Incorporating the artificial internet of things, 5G, cloud computing, and other key technologies are pivotal in making Taiwan a hub for digital health, she said.

The other objective is better control of healthcare-related materials and core elements. The country will work to guarantee a sufficient supply of testing technology, medical equipment, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and vaccines – through the strategic deployment of available resources and policy incentives – to prepare for health crises to come.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 12/03/2020
By: Kuo Chien-shen and Ko Lin

2Taipei, Dec. 3 (CNA) People in Taiwan may be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by the second quarter of 2021, slightly earlier than previously anticipated, Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said Thursday.

Based on current evaluations, the first doses of the vaccine could be available between March and June, Chen told lawmakers during a legislative hearing in Taipei.

However, the administration of the second doses would not be completed until after June due to the tight timeframe, said Chen, who also heads the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

His response Thursday came after he said last week Taiwan has secured access to around 15 million vaccine doses and the government is in talks with other manufacturers to purchase additional vaccines.    [FULL  STORY]