Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/18
By: Chen Yen-chun and Joseph Yeh

Manila, Sept. 18 (CNA) A Manila court on Wednesday handed down prison sentences to eight Philippine coast guard officers over the 2013 fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in waters where the exclusive economic zones of the two countries overlap.

The ruling found the eight guilty of homicide and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from eight years and one day to 14 years 8 months and one day, for their involvement in the shooting death of 65-year-old Hung Shih-cheng (洪石成).

The eight have been identified as Commander Arnold de la Cruz, Petty Officer 2 Richard Corpuz, Seaman 2nd Class Nicky Aurelio, Seaman 1st Class Edrando Aguila, Seaman 1st Class Mhelvyn Bendo II, Seaman 1st Class Andy Gibb Golfo, Seaman 1st Class Sonny Masangkay and Seaman 1st Class Henry Solomon, according to a report by English-language Philippine Star.

The court also ordered the men to "jointly and severally" pay the heirs of the killed fisherman 50,000 Philippine pesos (US$957) in civil indemnity and another 50,000 pesos in moral damages.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 17 September, 2019
By: Paula Chao

The foreign ministry is calling on INTERPOL or the International Criminal Police Organization to make

proper arrangements for Taiwan’s bid to join the global body. That’s the word from Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Joanne Ou on Tuesday.

Ou said Taiwan’s bid has received strong bipartisan support in the US Congress.
[FULL  STORY]

AIT director warns against Chinese control over 5G infrastructure

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/09/17
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan and the United States will for the first time conduct large-scale joint

cybersecurity drills in November, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Brent Christensen announced Tuesday (September 17).

Speaking at a seminar about artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in Taipei, the U.S. representative emphasized the risks of allowing China to control basic 5G systems, as the communist country could gain access to sensitive data and paralyze other countries’ communication networks, the Central News Agency reported.

The most immediate threat was no longer troops landing on the beach, but the malicious use of open societies and the open Internet to subvert democracy, Christensen reportedly said.

Chinese-backed attacks against Taiwan’s high technology sector had multiplied by seven from 2017 to 2018, and was likely to increase a further 20 times in 2019, he said. Christensen said that as he was speaking, hackers, including some from China, were stealing business secrets and intellectual property from Taiwan and from the U.S.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/17
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Sept. 17 (CNA) Cooperation between the United States and Taiwan on cyber security is

important, as there are malignant parties using the Internet to disrupt the economy, hurt democratic values and the integrity of crucial infrastructure, the director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said Tuesday.

"As we speak, pernicious actors, including China, are engaged in relentless attempts to steal Taiwan's and the United States' trade secrets, intellectual property, and most valuable data," said Brent Christensen during a forum on cyber security.

Evidence indicates that Chinese-backed cyber attacks on Taiwan's technology industry were seven times greater in 2018 than in 2017, and are on track to be 20 times greater in 2019, according to Christensen.

While historically, China has focused its attacks on Taiwan's semiconductor industry, it has now expanded its scope to include attacks on the smart machinery and electronic component industries, which is a threat to Taiwan's industry and even its future, he said.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 16 September, 2019
By: Leslie Liao

Taiwan’s legislature goes back into session on Tuesday. The majority-holding Democratic Progressive

Party (DPP) met on Monday to to choose who will run for convener of the different legislative committees. The DPP says that in the coming days it will make the national budget a priority.

One thing that’s not a priority for the DPP is proposing an amendment that would crack down on Chinese proxies operating in Taiwan. DPP Caucus Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi says more time is needed for the party to come to a consensus.

Lee says that the party is not stalling on, or trivializing, the issue. He says that if they were to open the Legislative session with a discussion about the proxy amendments, it would incite the opposition KMT to boycott, and nothing would get done.    [FULL  STORY]

The Straits Times
Date: Sep 16, 22019

BEIJING (AFP) – China on Monday (Sept 16) welcomed the Solomon Islands' decision to nix diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a move that leaves the self-governing island with recognition from just 16 nations.

"The Chinese side highly appreciates the Solomon Islands government's decision to … sever the so-called 'diplomatic relations' with Taiwan authorities," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a statement shortly before midnight.

"We welcome the Solomon Islands in seizing a historical opportunity," she added.

The switch is a major coup for Beijing just weeks before it celebrates the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.    [FULL  STORY]

Opinion poll expert You Ying-lung says Tsai Ing-wen and her ministers are masters of fear mongering

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/09/16
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Chairman of the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation (台灣民意教育基金

會) You Ying-lung (游盈隆) on Sunday (Sept. 15) criticized the Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) administration for failing to fulfill its pledge of bringing change, after taking power in 2016.

In a Facebook post, You blasted Tsai for squandering the years since the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) swept to victory. The election win saw Tsai elected as Taiwan President and the party secure a majority in the legislature, but those who fought so hard to gain a mandate have “shamelessly” reneged on their promise to improve the situation, he argued.

You lambasted the Tsai administration for engaging in a fear-mongering campaign fixated on “countering China in defense of Taiwan.” However, the president and her ministers have shown no vision for the country or outlined the steps to be taken over the next four years.

This shows how corrupt and incompetent the ruling party is and proves that its only intent is to gain prosperity through continued abuse of power, You lamented. What the DPP is doing is trying to muddle through in the run-up to the January elections in 2020, rather than acting like a responsible ruling party, he added.    [FULL  STORY]