Page Three

Filipino prosecuted over holding sea turtle in Taiwan

Liuqiu has seen 10 violations this year of illegal sea turtle contact

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/10/05
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Philippine migrant worker has been prosecuted for touching a sea turtle at Liuqiu (Lambai Island) off southwestern Taiwan.

The 45-year-old man from the Philippines was arrested on Saturday (Oct. 3) for forcefully grabbing a sea turtle in the Huapingyan (花瓶岩岸) area of the offshore coral reef island, according to the Coast Guard Administration, which acted on a tip from tourists.

The suspect, who traveled to the attraction with friends during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, has admitted to the offense stipulated by Article 18 of the Wildlife Conservation Act, which outlaws acts of disturbing, abusing, hunting, or killing protected wildlife.

He now faces up to a year's imprisonment and/or a fine of between NT$60,000 (US$2,083) and NT$300,000. Violators can be subject to a two-year sentence and/or a fine of up to NT$500,000 should their conduct result in the death of protected species, pursuant to the Act.
[FULL  STORY]

German office in Taiwan celebrates German National Day

Focus Taiwan
Date: 10/05/2020
By: Emerson Lim

German Institute Taipei Director General Thomas Prinz (right) and Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. CNA photo Oct. 5, 2020

Taipei, Oct. 5 (CNA) The German Institute Taipei highlighted the values of freedom and democracy shared by Taiwan and Germany at its German National Day celebration in Taipei on Monday.

The German National Day banquet was held at the Grand Hyatt Taipei to celebrate the reunification of Germany on Oct. 3, 1990.

Germany's unification symbolized the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Iron Curtain between Eastern and Western Europe, said Thomas Prinz, director general of the German Institute Taipei, in his remarks at the event.

"Also, here in Taiwan, the people have fought for freedom and democracy. This deliberate decision to live in a free and democratic society is a strong bond between our nations," he said, stressing that the revival of authoritarianism demanded closer cooperation between democratic societies.    [ULL  STORY]

HK suspect cannot enter on tourist visa, premier says

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 06, 2020
By: Shelley Shan / Staff reporter, in Yilan County

The government would not allow a Hong Kong murder suspect to enter the nation with a tourist visa, nor would it permit him to enter without restrictions, Premier Su Tseng-chan (蘇貞昌) said yesterday.

Chan Tong-kai (陳同佳), who is accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend, Poon Hiu-wing (潘曉穎), in Taiwan last year before fleeing back to Hong Kong, on Friday said that he was willing to turn himself in to Taiwanese authorities this month.

However, the Hong Kong Security Bureau said that Hong Kong Police do not have a point of contact in Taiwan to discuss relevant details of the case.

“The case is about a Hong Konger killing another Hong Konger, and the alleged killer is now in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government is supposed to handle the case and handle it well. Taiwan would provide information about the case should the Hong Kong government request it,” Su said in response to questions on the sideline of a groundbreaking ceremony at the Port of Suao in Yilan County for the new Nanfangao Bridge (南方澳橋).    [FULL  STORY]

COVID-19: Taiwan adds two new cases, bringing total to 517

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 02 October, 2020
By: Leslie Liao

Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center confirmed two new cases of COVID-19 in Taiwan

Taiwan confirmed two new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. This brings the total number of cases it has recorded so far up to 517. Both of the new cases are imported.

One of the patients traveled to Taiwan from the United States on September 20. He showed no symptoms upon his arrival. However, he notified health authorities that he had come into contact with COVID-19 patients during his time in the US.

The man later reported symptoms between September 24 and September 30. He tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. Health authorities have placed twelve people seated around the man on his flight back to Taiwan under close observation.

The other patient traveled to Japan in January for work. He began showing symptoms between September 15 and September 22 while still in Japan, but was diagnosed with a cold.[FULL  STORY]

US-China tech feud: Taiwan feels heat from both sides

Straits Times
Date: October 2, 2020

TAINAN • The United States and China are wrestling to lead the world in artificial intelligence, 5G wireless and other cutting-edge technologies. But the real wizardry that makes those advancements possible is being performed on an island that sits between them, geographically and politically.

On Taiwan's southern rim, inside an arena-size facility set among lush greenery, colossal machines are manipulating matter at unimaginably tiny scale.

A powerful laser vapourises droplets of molten tin, causing them to emit ultraviolet light.

Mirrors focus the light into a beam, which draws features into a silicon wafer with the precision, as one researcher put it, "equivalent to shooting an arrow from Earth to hit an apple placed on the Moon".    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan offers hope to foreigners seeking urgent medical treatment

Country offers lifesaving treatments for desperate foreign citizens during COVID-19 pandemicTaiwan News
Date: 2020/10/02
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taipei Veterans General Hospital staff perform surgery on Vietnamese newborn.  (CNA photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan has become a lifeboat for foreigners who have not received adequate medical treatment in their home countries.

Taiwan relaxed border controls in August to allow entry to foreign nationals who have urgent medical needs, becoming one of the few countries with the capacity to provide such humanitarian services, as COVID-19 continues to spread. The measure is not intended to make a profit from medical travel, CNA reported, citing top hospital officials.

According to Hong Zi-ren (洪子仁), vice superintendent of the Shin Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital, disruptions to international flights mean patients need to spend a fortune to access treatment in other countries via charter flights.

A Cambodian male in his 60s, who was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in Taiwan two years ago, was forced to receive alternative treatment in his home country and suffered sepsis — before he was allowed to travel to Taiwan in August for treatment at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital International Medical Center. The center received a letter from the patient’s daughter to express her gratitude to staff, according to the report.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan confirms 5 new dengue cases in Sanxia farm cluster

Focus Taiwan
Date: 10/02/2020
By: Chang Ming-hsuan, Yeh Chen
and Lee Hsin-Yin

A worker spray pesticide in New Taipei. Photo courtesy of the New Taipei City Department of Health

Taipei, Oct. 2 (CNA) Taiwan on Friday reported five new confirmed cases of indigenous dengue fever that are believed to be part of a cluster infection associated with a farm in Sanxia in New Taipei, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The five patients — four men and one women aged 41 to 74 years old — all live in Sanxia and developed symptoms between Sept. 24-29, the CDC said.

They all went to see doctors complaining of sore throats, runny noses, fevers, headaches or muscle pains and were confirmed on Friday to have contracted the disease, the CDC said.

Based on the movements of the patients before they fell ill, it appears they contracted the virus at the bamboo shoot farm, which is believed to be the source of a cluster infection that has now reached 30 cases — 26 in Sanxia and four in Taoyuan — the CDC said.   [FULL  STORY]

KMT urges limit on police inside legislature

‘SELF-GOVERNANCE’: Reacting to brawls surrounding July’s Control Yuan nominations, a lawmaker has drafted new rules in a bid to safeguard legislative independence

Taipei Times
Date: Oct 03, 2020
By: Chen Yun and Jason Pan / Staff Reporters

Then-Control Yuan presidential nominee Chen Chu is escorted to the Legislative Yuan in Taipei by police on July 14.
Photo: CNA

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Sandy Yeh (葉毓蘭) yesterday proposed amendments to the Legislators’ Conduct Act (立法委員行為法) to limit the power of police to constrain the personal freedom of lawmakers when in session at the Legislative Yuan.

The proposal comes after physical altercations involving KMT lawmakers who tried to block the nomination process of Control Yuan members in July.

KMT leaders had accused Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) of the Democratic Progressive Party of authorizing excessive police force to protect then-Control Yuan presidential nominee Chen Chu (陳菊), saying that involving the police had led to obstructions of their personal freedom and legislative duties.

Yeh proposed the amendments to outline strict rules on the use of police force inside the parliament.    [FULL  STORY]

Foreign ministry protests Japan city’s name change for Diaoyutai Is.

Radio Taiwan Intedrnational
Date: 01 October, 2020
By: John Van Trieste

In addition to Taiwan, Japan and China claim the Diaoyutai Islands. (Photo Courtesy AFP)

The foreign ministry has protested to Japan after a Japanese municipality changed the official designation for a group of islands that Taiwan claims.

The Diaoyutai Islands, also sometimes referred to as the Senkaku Islands in English, are claimed by Taiwan, Japan, and China.

In June, Japan’s Ishigaki City Council voted to change the administrative designation of the islands to “Tonoshiro Senkaku”, spurred on by continued Chinese patrols nearby.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan pop stars Ouyang Nana and Angela Chang defy fine risk to appear in mainland China National Day show

  • Ouyang sings solo in group performance of patriotic My Homeland song
  • Politicians from island’s ruling party call for two artists to be fined

South China Morning Post
Date: 1 Oct, 2020
By: Keegan Elmer and Sarah Zheng

Angela Chang has performed for many years on the mainland. Photo: CCTV

On the eve of National Day on Wednesday evening, both singers joined in the rendition of the patriotic tune My Homeland and Guardian, a song about the fight against the coronavirus.
Taiwanese pop stars Ouyang Nana and Angela Chang joined mainland Chinese artists for a televised performance to celebrate the founding of the People’s Republic, despite warnings that they could face fines back home.

Ouyang sang a line of My Homeland solo but the lyrics were not overtly political.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture had previously warned that the performance could violate the island’s laws governing relations with the mainland, resulting in fines of up to NT$500,000 (US$17,000), according to a ministry statement on Monday.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said on Wednesday evening that it would work with the ministry to make an assessment, but did not clarify if the performers would be judged on the content of the songs or for simply taking part in the event.    [FULL  STORY]