Malay Mail
Date: 08 July 2019
By: Justin Ong

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Malaysia’s “Look East” policy is oft-linked with Japan and South Korea, but Taiwan — closer to us both geographically and culturally — is eager to be in the same company.

To that end, the small island-state is making a case with its “New Southbound Policy”, a reboot of a previous strategy to expand its regional influence via foreign direct investments in the Asean region.

Introduced after Tsai Ing-Wen won the country’s 2016 presidential election, it is a re-envisioning of the earlier approach, this time with a strong emphasis on dialogue and soft power to fill the gaps where investments alone cannot.

The success of the NSP is crucial for Taiwan due to China’s Belt-Road Initiative, which brings with it funding and financial sweeteners that the tiny nation cannot match.    [FULL  STORY]

Justice served: S. Korea repatriates 22 telecom fraud suspects to Taiwan, ignores China's pleas

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/07/08
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Unlike certain countries which have kowtowed to Beijing on the matter, South Korea on Friday (July 5) showed moral fortitude and repatriated 22 Taiwanese telecom scam suspects to Taiwan, despite pleas from Communist China to do otherwise.

Late last year, Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Taichung Police began cooperating with South Korean police on uncovering a telecom fraud ring operating out of Jeju Island masterminded by a suspect surnamed Pai (白), netting a total of 60 suspects including Pai. After adjudication by a South Korean court, 22 Taiwanese telecom fraud suspects were repatriated to Taiwan on Friday after serving their sentences or parole based on the circumstances of their cases.

When the arrests were initially reported, the Chinese government held a press conference demanding that "diplomatic allies" deal with Taiwan-related issues based on the nebulous "one China" principle. However, South Korea ignored Beijing's pleas, and deported the 22 suspects in accordance with the tacit understanding of mutual legal assistance between Taiwan and South Korea, reported UDN.

On Saturday (July 6), all 22 suspects were transferred to the Taichung District Prosecutor's Office on charges of violating the Organized Crime Prevention Act (組織犯罪防制條例). After undergoing questioning, the suspects were released on bail ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$100,000, according to UDN.    [FULL  STORY]

More Taiwan food shows will take place in Singapore this summer, following the success of “Shilin Night Market” in April.

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/07/08
By: Judy Lo, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — With the success of the “Shilin Night Market” experience in Singapore this

April, Singaporeans are ready to welcome more Taiwan street food in July and August, Central News Agency is reporting.

Food has always been one of Taiwan’s major tourist attractions and the “Shilin Night Market” event held at Singapore Turf Club in April was a huge success, covered by multiple media in Singapore.

Beginning in July, there will be several food and cultural exhibitions taking place in Singapore. One of them is the two-week long Tantalizing Taiwan, which opened on July 2, at the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore.

In addition, Taiwan’s Chunghua International Exhibition Association (中華國際展拓交流協會) plans to take its member businesses to another food show in Singapore, in mid-August. They will introduce local products from Taiwan, as well as street food showcased in the Taiwan drama called “Night Market Life” (夜市人生).    [FULL STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/07/08
By: Wu Chia-jung and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, July 8 (CNA) People born under the astrological sign of Libra or in the Year of the Snake under the Chinese zodiac have had the best chance of winning Taiwan Power Lottery (威力彩) and Grand Lottery (大樂透) jackpots over the past five years, Taiwan Lottery Corp. said Monday.

Between 2014 and June this year, there had been 154 jackpot winners of the two lotteries, with 13 percent of them Libra, 12 percent Capricorn, 10 percent Aries and 10 percent Virgo.

In terms of the Chinese zodiac, people born in the Year of the Snake won 13 percent of the jackpots, followed by those born in the Year of the Monkey and the Year of the Horse at 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively.    [FULL  STORY]

A QUESTION OF CHARACTER(S): A calligrapher says the design for ‘Taiwan’ on a poster and stickers for a festival is very similar to characters that he designed

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 09, 2019
By: Sherry Hsiao  /  Staff writer, with CNA

The Kaohsiung City Government is in hot water again after a calligrapher said his work was used in

promotions for this year’s International Kaohsiung Festival without his permission.

A Facebook user named Y.C. Lin who manages a “Yu’s Calligraphy” page on Sunday appeared to accuse festival organizers of plagiarizing the characters for “Taiwan” (臺灣) that he had drawn.

Photographs shared by Lin appear to show similar characters in a sticker set and poster promoting the festival.

It is not the first time Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu’s (韓國瑜) administration has been accused of plagiarism, said Lee Hsin-han (李欣翰), director of the Taiwan Radical Wings party’s Kaohsiung chapter.

Han has “avoided the issue” in previous instances by saying they were the “unprompted behavior of [his] supporters” and that conversations should not revolve around “small, technical issues,” Lee said.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Railways Administration will provide additional train services to transport festival-goers to stations nearest the festival venue

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/07/07
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) has announced additional train services to transport festival-goers to the 2019 Taitung International Balloon Fiesta, which lifted off on June 29 and will continue until Aug. 12.

TRA will provide additional local train services to Luye Highland (鹿野高台), the festival venue, Taitung County Government said.

There will be a train from Taitung Station to Chihshan Station ( Train No. 4629) and a return train (Train No. 4636) between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This is during the festival period and includes Aug. 12 (Monday), the last day of the festival.

In addition, the northbound Train No. 317 and southbound Train No. 418 will make an additional stop at Luye Station (鹿野車站) every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the festival period, and on Aug. 12.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/07/07
By: Wang Shu-fen and Emerson Lim

Taipei, July 7 (CNA) The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) issued heat hazard alerts for seven cities and a county Sunday due to the effect of a southwesterly wind, with a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius recorded in Hualien as the highest in the country.

The temperature was recorded at noon in Fuyuan village, Hualien County. About an hour later, the temperature in Taipei reached 37 degrees, while New Taipei and Keelung City reached highs of 36 degrees, according to the CWB.

Currently, an orange light alert is in effect in Hualien County and the adjacent Taitung County in eastern Taiwan, while Taipei, Keelung, New Taipei, Taoyuan, Kaohsiung and Changhua County, are under a yellow light alert.

Under the CWB's three-level heat advisory system, an orange light alert means daily maximum temperatures have reached 36 degrees for three consecutive days, or the daily maximum temperature has reached 38 degrees, with the public advised to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and stay hydrated.    [FULL  STORY]

A fire engulfed the second floor of a residential building in Shiding District early Saturday morning

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/07/06
By: Duncan DeAeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – An early morning fire in the mountainous Shiding District (石碇區) of New Taipei City on Saturday (July 6) resulted in the death of two residents.

The fire, which erupted on the second floor of a residential building, was first reported at approximately 1:30 a.m. When firefighters arrived at the scene, the fire had engulfed the entire second floor, and four residents of the building were trapped on the fourth floor in a makeshift residence of iron sheeting.

CNA reports that a fifth resident of the building was able to escape through a third floor window before the fire grew too large, however four residents on the top floor were not as lucky.

Two people pulled from the fire showing no signs of life, and doctors were unable to revive them. The other residents received emergency medical treatment and expect a quick recovery.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/07/06
By: William Yen

Taipei, July 6 (CNA) The annual Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival (YICFFF) opened Saturday in the northeastern county, with over 17,000 visitors participating in a variety of water activities, exhibitions and shows for families and children, according to its organizers.

Chen Ying-liang (陳盈良), a section chief of the county government's Cultural Affairs Bureau (CAB), said the number of visitors hit approximately 17,000 at 4 p.m., an increase of over 2,000 from the opening day last year.

This year, the daily closing time will also be extended from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Chen said.

The festival kicked off with six pools, each with facilities including water slides, spray fountains, and water-themed bouncy castles.    [FULL  STORY]