Page Three

Constitutional interpretation of pension reforms to be ready Friday

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 22 August, 2019
By: Paula Chao

The justices of the Constitutional Court are set to make public their constitutional interpretation of

People First Party lawmaker Lee Hung-chun (CNA file photo)

pension reforms involving retired civil servants, teachers, and military personnel on Friday.

The interpretation will focus on whether the government’s pension reforms have violated the legal principle that “there is no penalty without previous law.” There has also been tremendous controversy over whether it is unconstitutional for the government to break its promise of offering retirees a preferential 18% interest rate.

People First Party lawmaker Lee Hung-chun is one of those who requested a constitutional interpretation of pension reform. On Thursday, Lee said it is unfair to blame only retirees for the collapse of government pension funds, as the management of the funds should be subject to scrutiny too.    [FULL  STORY]

China Demands US Stop F-16 Fighter Sales to Taiwan

Prensa Laina
Date: Aug 22, 2019

Beijing, Aug 22 (Prensa Latina) China on Thursday demanded that the United States immediately stop the sales of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, and warned that the plan will deteriorate bilateral relations, which are already affected by strong economic and commercial frictions.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the Council of State Office for Taiwan Affairs, told reporters that Washington will put peace and stability in the region at risk if it makes a decision that interferes with China's domestic affairs.

He also demanded that the US stop the support for the separatist forces in Taiwan, and warned the island's authorities that 'history will punish you for ignoring the people's welfare and interests' by seeking US protection.

Finally, Ma noted that the transaction seriously violates the basic rules of relations among the countries of the world, the One China principle and the three joint communiqués signed by China and the United States.    [SOURCE]

Taiwan blessed by an abundance of lobsters

The country is home to a number of species due to the ideal offshore habitat it provides

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/08/22
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan is said to have the most lobster species in the world, given the ideal habitat provided by the Kuroshio current off its shores.

According to a report by the Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, there are about 45 species of lobsters worldwide. It's reported that 14 to 16 species of lobsters make their home in Taiwan’s waters.

According to the Institute of Oceanography report, most lobster species live off the coast of Taitung, Hualien, Yilan, Keelung, Hengchun, and Penghu. There are six species of lobsters that are most commonly seen here, including: Panulirus japonicas (日本龍蝦), Panulirus longipes (長足龍蝦), Panulirus ornatus (錦繡龍蝦), Panulirus peniciliatus (密毛龍蝦), Panulirus homarus (波紋龍蝦), Panulirus versicolor (雜色龍蝦).

The spiny Panulirus japonicas is most commonly seen in waters off Taiwan’s north coast, and is rarely seen in southern Taiwan. It is said to be the second most numerous species in Taiwan.
[FULL  STORY]

Worst indoor air quality in Korean BBQ restaurants, temples: NHRI

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/08/22
By: Chang Ming-hsuan and Joseph Yeh

Pixabay image for illustrative purpose only

Taipei, Aug. 22 (CNA) A survey on air quality in Taiwan reveals that incense-burning temples and Korean-style barbecue restaurants are among the indoor venues with the highest PM2.5 concentrations, which are harmful to people's health, a researcher said Thursday.

Chen Yu-cheng (陳裕政), an assistant investigator with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences under the National Health Research Institute (NHRI), said the NHRI has spent the past two years conducting surveys on air quality around the country, focusing on both indoor and outdoor venues, as well as means of transportation.

In the surveys, air quality is defined by the level of PM2.5 concentration.

Among the indoor venues, temples have the highest PM2.5 exposures, with their average PM2.5 concentrations reaching 62.5 micrograms per cubic meter. The second-highest average PM2.5 concentrations were in restaurants, reaching 33.9 micrograms per cubic meter, according to the survey.    [FULL  STORY]

Hygiene item suspected of transmitting HPV

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 23, 2019
By: Hsieh Chieh-yu and Sherry Hsiao  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

A doctor in Nantou County advised people not to share personal hygiene products, after a growth of

Nantou Hospital otolaryngology department physician Wu Chao-kuan points to an image of a surgically removed wart yesterday in an examination room at the hospital.
Photo: Hsieh Chieh-yu, Taipei Times

warts inside a 70-year-old man’s ears was likely caused by a reusable ear pick used at a hair salon.

The man, surnamed Huang (黃), experienced itchiness inside his right ear and occasional pus and bloody discharge, Nantou Hospital otolaryngologist Wu Chao-kuan (吳昭寬) said.

Huang visited the hospital after losing hearing in the ear, Wu said, adding that an endoscopic exam confirmed the growth of warts.

The warts were surgically removed and Huang’s hearing gradually recovered, he added.
[FULL  STORY]

New Power Party elects new leader

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/08/21
By: Flor Wang and Wang Yang-yu

Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) New Power Party (NPP) legislative caucus whip Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明) was elected chairman of the party by its decision-making committee Wednesday.

Hsu succeeds Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智), who stepped down Aug. 12 to assume responsibility for the departure of NPP Legislator Freddy Lim (林昶佐) and over an alleged conflict of interest case involving a former assistant to NPP Legislator Kawlo Iyun Pacidal.

Following his election as NPP chairman, Hsu said he is ready to talk with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and will do his best to secure 1 million votes for the party in the January legislative election.

Hsu said he will stick to Chiu's path of justice and fairness and build a third choice for Taiwan's youth, apart from the DPP and the major opposition Kuomintang (KMT).    [FULL  STORY]

E-cigarette usage among young on the rise, HPA says

Taipei Times
Date: Aug 22, 2019
By: Lee I-chia  /  Staff reporter

The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) expressed concern over the rising use of e-cigarettes among adolescents, as a survey last year showed that 80.9 percent of e-liquids contained nicotine and some also contained harmful or potentially harmful ingredients.

E-cigarettes pose potential health risks, but they are often marketed in various forms or names and claim to have health benefits, such as vitamin aromatherapy sticks and food flavor e-juices, and have rapidly attracted many children and adolescents to try them out, the agency said.

According to the US’ National Youth Tobacco Survey last year, e-cigarette use among adolescents increased drastically between 2017 and last year: The rate jumped from 3.3 percent to 4.9 percent among middle-school students, and from 11.7 percent to 20.8 percent among high-school students, the agency said.

E-cigarettes have become the most commonly used tobacco product among US adolescents, it added.    [FULL  STORY]

VIDEO: Chiayi County to hold 2019 tea culture expo in September

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 20 August, 2019
By: Paula Chao

Chiayi County Commissioner Weng Chang-liang (2nd from right)

The 2019 tea culture expo is set to kick off in early September in the southwestern county of Chiayi. Tea masters from 10 countries will attend the event to share their tea culture and brewing techniques. The expo will thus be a showcase for the culture of many tea-loving countries such as Japan and Britain.

This expo has been held annually since 2016. The 10-day event will be held at an eco-friendly building from September 7th to 16th. This year’s theme is aesthetics and innovation in tea culture.

At a promotional event on Monday for the tea culture expo, a tea master from the UK demonstrated how to brew traditional British afternoon tea.

Chiayi County is famous for its A-grade high mountain oolong tea. In recent years, tea growers there have been cultivating black tea to cater to international taste buds. With its pleasant aroma and beautiful color, locally-grown black tea has become quite popular.    [FULL  STORY]

US arms sales to Taiwan will lead to serious consequences

Times Published:
Date: 2019/8/21

US President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that he has approved the sale of $8 billion worth of F-16V fighter jets to Taiwan. According to reports, the arms sales involved 66 fighters of this type, and it was believed that the deal will pass smoothly in US Congress. 

It would be the largest single US arms sale to Taiwan in recent years. In 1992, the Bush administration decided to sell 150 F-16A/B fighter jets worth $6 billion to Taiwan. That deal wreaked havoc on Sino-US relations. 

Objectively, with the PLA's combat capability constantly increasing, even if Taiwan spends all defense budgets to buy US weapons, it will have no real impact on the military situation across the Taiwan Straits. Taiwan is no longer a military rival of the Chinese mainland. The PLA has the ability to disarm the Taiwan military in a very short time. US arms sales to Taiwan cannot change this basic reality.

However, US arms sales to Taiwan have become the biggest link in strengthening political relations between the US and the island of Taiwan.      [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan supermodel Lin Chi-ling accuses media of privacy violation

She was photographed at a hospital and the gossip magazine claimed she is preparing for artificial insemination

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/08/20
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Supermodel Lin Chiling (Wikimedia Commons photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Representatives of Taiwan supermodel Lin Chi-ling (林志玲) issued a statement on Tuesday (Aug. 20), accusing a celebrity gossip magazine of violating her privacy.

The Mirror Media magazine carried a story on July 31 reporting Lin had visited National Taiwan University Hospital to prepare for in vitro fertilization, Liberty Times reported on Tuesday (Aug. 20).

Lin’s representatives accused a Mirror Media paparazzo of taking pictures of Lin’s driver, who was delivering an item containing personal information to a hospital staff member. This personal information was said to have been reported in the July 31 article claiming Lin wanted artificial insemination.

The hospital staff member was identified by Mirror Media as a member of NTU Hospital’s artificial reproduction team. Lin, who recently married Japanese boy band member Akira, has spoken publicly about wanting twins.    [FULL  STORY]