Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/05/04
By: Chao Li-yan, Flor Wang and Frances Huang

Taipei, May 4 (CNA) Former President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has obtained approval

from Taichung Prison to attend an event to launch a memoir on his life by writer Peng Meng-tao (彭孟濤) on Sunday, according to prison authorities.

Tai Ming-wei (戴明瑋), deputy warden of the prison, said Saturday that based on a medical evaluation, the upcoming event will allow Chen, who has been on medical parole since Jan. 5, 2015, to socialize with other people, which will have health benefits, so the authorities approved his attendance.

Under the terms of his parole, Chen, who suffers neurological problems and secured an 18th medical parole extension on Friday for another three months to Aug. 4, is required to apply to Taichung Prison for approval to attend outside activities.

Chen submitted an application on April 30 for permission to attend the launch of the memoir and Tai said Taichung Prison processed the application by taking into account the suggestion from Chen’s medical team.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International 
Date: 03 May, 2019
By: Paula Chao

President Tsai Ing-wen (right) visited a temple on Friday. (CNA photo)
President Tsai Ing-wen says the government supports local businesses making inroads into the US market. Tsai was speaking Friday during an interview.

The president was referring to Taiwanese business tycoon Terry Gou’s investment project in Wisconsin. Gou is the chairman of Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer. It was reported that Foxconn has been renegotiating its deal to build a US$10 billion plant there.    [FULL  STORY]

Defense News
Date: May 3, 2019
By: Mike Yeo

MELBOURNE, Australia – China is improving and increasing its options for a possible future invasion of Taiwan, with military reforms and investments in multi-domain military capabilities offering a range of options to defeat the self-governing island, according to a Pentagon report.

These options range from an air and sea blockade of Taiwan to a full-scale invasion, although the latter option would require a significant increase in the number of amphibious ships, according to the latest annual China Military Power Report released Thursday by the Department of Defense.

Nevertheless, the report cautioned that the People’s Liberation Army or PLA’s efforts to convert the bulk of its maneuver units to combined arms brigades, “should eventually create more capable, modular brigades and battalions,” while the “expansion of army aviation and the creation of two new air assault brigades also provides more attack, air assault and close air support options for a Taiwan invasion.”
China’s PLA has also made efforts to improve its ability to insert forces by air, by restructuring its airborne corps and establishing air assault units, which would be charged with aerial insertion and seizing key terrain. This restructure saw it reorganizing its previous units into airborne infantry brigades, a special operations brigade, an aviation brigade, and a support brigade, with the corps conducting training exercises in 2018 that involved long-range raid and airborne operations based on actual war plans.
[FULL  STORY]

One of the oldest bookstores in Taipei will close for business in September

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/05/03
By: Judy Lo, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – 45-year-old Chien Hung Bookstore (建弘書局) will close down in September, as it announced on its Facebook page.

Traditional bookstores are being edged out of business, as customers now purchase books and stationery mostly online, with Chien Hung soon joining them.

Chongqing South Road (重慶南路) used to be lined with bookstores and was called the “road of bookstores.” With a high concentration of cram schools only a few blocks away, this area attracted many publishers and book retailers in the old days.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/05/03
By: Yu Hsiao-Has and Lee Hsin-Yin 

Taipei, May 3 (CNA) A setting sun alignment in Taipei drew a large crowd on Friday as the sky finally cleared up after days of rain.

The view was captured on Emei St. (west of Xining S. Road) and Zhongxiao E. and W. Road. It will be visible again at the first location for the next two days, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said.

It forecast fair weather over the weekend.

Observation conditions will be optimal between 5:56 p.m. and 6:16 p.m. on Saturday, as well as between 5:53 p.m. and 6:13 p.m. on Sunday, the bureau said.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: May 04, 2019
By: Staff writer, with CNA, MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co chairman Terry Gou (郭台銘) on Thursday urged Beijing to r

ecognize the existence of the Republic of China (ROC) and give it greater international space, while stressing that Taiwan is part of China.

“Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and belongs to the Chinese nation,” Gou told reporters on board his flight to Wisconsin from Washington, where he met US President Donald Trump at the White House a day earlier.

However, Gou called on Beijing not to squeeze Taiwan on the world stage and allow it to take part in international activities, warning that a continued hard line would have consequences.

“Without international space, Taiwan’s leaders won’t be able to make overseas visits, which will ultimately result in destabilizing the foundation for peace between the two sides,” he said.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: May 02, 2019

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference on smart health care for noncommunicable diseases wrapped up May 1 in Taipei City, strengthening regional collaboration in using information and communication technology to tackle major public health threats.

Organized by the Health Promotion Administration under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the APEC Conference on Smart Healthcare for NCDs and Their Risk Factors Prevention and Control brought together about 200 academics, experts and officials from 12 countries and territories.

Discussions focused on emerging strategies for preventing and treating illnesses like breast cancer and diabetes. Other topics explored at the two-day event spanned implementing an age-friendly society as well as bolstering patient engagement and medical services through artificial intelligence, behavioral sensing and wearable devices.

Keynote speakers included Dr. Chen Ray-jade, superintendent of Taipei Medical University Hospital; Nam Han Cho, president of the International Diabetes Federation; and George Demiris, a biobehavioral health sciences professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S.    [FULL  STORY]