Taiwan Insight
Date: 30 November 2020
By: Milo Hsieh.

Corruption in Taiwan has been a significant issue since the democratisation in Taiwan. In the early years of Taiwan’s democracy, this was a major issue for politicians in all political parties. 

Despite numbers and figures showing that Taiwan has been working well to root out corruption amongst its bureaucracy and politics, high-level corruption and illicit deals between politicians and the business community continues to Taiwanese politicians.

Even though Taiwan has several laws aimed at preventing corruption, such as its campaign contribution laws and lobbying laws, a culture of corruption still exists at the local level. Moreover, high-level corruption has implicated legislators of all major political parties.

How exactly can Taiwan push away corruption as a rapidly developing democracy, in the context of a past marked by corruption?    [FULL  STORY]

Nation to enforce new COVID-19 rules from Tuesday

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/11/30
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New measures designed to stem the spread of COVID-19 by hitting offenders in the pocketbook will become effective in Taiwan on Tuesday (Dec. 1).

The new measures include the requirement that all travelers flying to Taiwan, as well as people transiting through the nation, provide a certificate of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result issued within three days of boarding. Travelers found to have provided false or incorrect test results — or those who refuse, evade, or obstruct related quarantine measures — may face a fine of between NT$10,000 (US$330) and NT$150,000, according to the Communicable Disease Control Act.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 11/30/2020
By: Su Mu-chun, Chao Li-yan and Chiang Yi-ching

Taipei, Nov. 30 (CNA) Trial operations on Taichung's mass rapid transit (MRT) system could be further delayed after the city government demanded more comprehensive safety checks, according to a press release Monday.

Trial runs on the system's first line, the Green Line, began on Nov. 16, but were suspended after one of the trains reported a malfunction at the Taichung High Speed Rail Station terminal on Nov. 21.

The system's operator, Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Corp. (TMRTC), said the same day that all services would be suspended until the problem is fixed.

The breakdown involved a U.S.-made coupling connecting the two-carriage train that broke, which the train manufacturer, Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan, said had "never happened before."    [FULL  STORY]

“Children have been very affected by COVID-19, more than we think. They are very worried. And what they want most, apart from the gifts, is really to be able to have a normal life, the end of COVID, a vaccine," says head elf Jamila Hajji.

NBC los Angeles
Date: November 28, 2020
By: Associated Press

Jim from Taiwan slipped a mask into the greeting card he sent to Santa and marked A "I (heart) to you." Meanwhile, 5-year-old Alina asked in her letter from Santa Claus to use the front door when entering, because the back door is reserved for grandparents to minimize the risk of contamination.

And pouring out her little heart to "Dear Santa Claus", Lola, 10 years old, wrote that she wishes "that my aunt will never have cancer again and that this virus no longer exists." The little girl explained that her "mother is a caregiver and sometimes I am afraid for her", in a letter that she signed with the message "Take care of yourself, Santa Claus and the Elves."

The emotional toll caused by the pandemic is jumping off the pages in the deluge of "Dear Santa" letters now arriving at a post office in southwestern France that sorts and responds to your mail from around the world.

Arriving in the tens of thousands, the letters, notes and cards – some simple scribbles, others elaborate labor of love in colored pens – are revealing windows into the tender minds of their young authors and adult Santa fans who also ask for a respite and happiness, at the end of a year of sickness and tumult.    [FULL  STORY]

Investigation found evidence of effort to drive up stock prices with public funds so as to receive kickbacks

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/11/29
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A government official responsible for making investments for Taiwan's Labor Insurance Fund and a private asset company executive are facing legal trouble for allegedly colluding to drive up the share price of a certain stock.

According to an investigation conducted by prosecutors and the Agency Against Corruption, beginning in July, a PJ Asset Management Co. investment executive surnamed Chiu (邱) allegedly began to bribe Bureau of Labor Funds (BLF) Domestic Investment Division Director Yu Nai-wen (游迺文) to use BLF accounts to buy shares of a certain company at a cost higher than market value so as to drive up the price, according to CNA.

The investigation found that more than 400 shares of the company had been purchased in that manner.

According to investigators, Yu’s average monthly credit card expenditures ranged from NT$150,000 (US$5,000) to NT$220,000 between September of 2012 and September of this year. It was also discovered that he had deposited nearly NT$9 million into his bank account during this period.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 11/29/2020
By: Liang Pei-chi and Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Nov. 29 (CNA) The government is mulling whether to build three reservoirs around Taiwan to address the problem of water shortages, which are expected to become more severe in the coming years, the Water Resources Agency (WRA) said Sunday.

The planned facilities are Shuangxi Reservoir in New Taipei, Tianhuahu Reservoir in Miaoli and Nanhua Second Reservoir in Tainan, said WRA Deputy Director-General Wang Yi-feng (王藝峰).

The new reservoirs are needed in case of more droughts in the future, Wang said, but stressed that currently, there is no timetable for construction to begin because that will involve further environmental impact assessment and communication with local people.

Upon completion, daily water supplies could be boosted by 126,000 tons, 260,000 tons and 170,000 tones, respectively, by the three reservoirs, Wang said.    [FULL  STORY]

‘PUBLIC ANGER’: The party is united in opposing the government, but respects different opinions on what forms of protest are appropriate, the KMT chairman said

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 30, 2020
By: Sherry Hsiao / Staff reporter

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday called on the government to reverse course on the lifting of a ban on US pork imports containing residues of ractopamine, warning that its supporters would otherwise again take to the streets.

The opposition cannot make the decision, but it can put pressure on the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to respond to public opinion, KMT Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said at the 126th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Revive China Society held in Taichung.

Chiang’s comments came after the KMT and its supporters on Sunday last week participated in a labor rights protest in Taipei, calling on the government to not allow imports of US pork containing residues of the animal feed additive.

Tens of thousands of people marched on the street that day, Chiang said.    [FULL  STORY]

Government's judicial branch takes part in art show 'Open House Taipei'

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/11/28
By: Lyla Liu, Taiwan News, Staff Reporter

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Judicial Yuan is open for art, with shows taking place on Saturday (Nov. 28) and Sunday (Nov. 29).

“Open House Taipei” originates in London, 1992, and has taken place in major cities worldwide. Due to the pandemic Taiwan is one of only two countries, along with Switzerland, to host the event this year, said curator Wu Juo-hao (吳卓昊).

The Judicial Yuan will open its doors to the public, along with 73 other institutions, such as artist studios and high-end bars, according to Wu. Works include those from calligrapher Chu Chen-nan (朱振南), photographer Kyo, and design studio Black and Blue Cosmos (黑青).
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 27 November, 20204
By: Leslie Liao

The National Palace Museum’s position in the government’s organizational framework may be lowered. That move, if approved, will come as part of an overhaul of Taiwan’s Cabinet. Currently, the museum is a Cabinet-level entity. However, early reports indicate that the museum may be placed under the administration of the culture ministry. 

Speaking to the press on Friday morning, Culture Minister Lee Yung-te said that nothing has been set in stone. He said that regardless of the museum’s ministerial affiliation, it will still be one of the world’s top ten museums, and so won’t face a “downgrade” of any sort. He said that the museum’s reputation has nothing to do with its administrative classification, stemming instead from its collection and curation, as well as successful marketing.      [FULL  STORY]