Your daily bulletin of Taiwan news, courtesy of ICRT.

The News Lens
Date: 2018/12/18
By: International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT)

The Transitional Justice Commission said the military honor guard at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei should be discontinued, as the complex remains a symbol of Taiwan’s authoritarian past.

According to acting commission chair Yang Tsui (楊翠), removal of the honor guard will help promote “social communication” and show that “Taiwan attaches importance to human rights and democratic values.”

Yang said the discontinuance of the honor guard should also be part of a wider revision of the way the complex is managed and it should host permanent exhibitions highlighting human rights and democracy.

The commission has proposed five guidelines for the transformation of the memorial hall. The guidelines include removing the statues of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石), highlighting evidence of authoritarian rule and the people’s opposition to such rule, and undertaking research and education related to human rights, democracy and rule of the law.
[FULL  STORY]

Ko Wen-je is preparing for a visit to the US next year as speculation surrounds a possible presidential bid

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/12/18
By: Duncan Deaeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – With just days before the Taipei-Shanghai Forum, and in the

midst of a disagreement with the central government, the office of Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) is planning a trip to the United States in 2019.

Following the nine-in-one elections held in November, in which Ko was re-elected, the mayor now finds himself at odds with the central government over the Taipei Dome, and with news of Ko’s potential trip to the U.S., his relationship with the Tsai administration may become increasingly complicated.

There is already speculation that Ko is positioning for himself for a presidential run, possibly as a challenger to Tsai Ing-wen in 2020. However, many remain concerned and skeptical of Ko’s stance on China and cross-strait relations.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/12/18
By: Shih Hsiu-chuan

Taipei, Dec. 18 (CNA) The Presidential Office said Tuesday that any military actions that

escalate tension in the region and damage relations between Taiwan and China are irresponsible and are not welcomed by the international community.

Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺) made the statement after the Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed that a number of Chinese aircraft and military vessels were operating near Taiwan that day.

As a member of the international community, it is irresponsible to launch any military actions that can disturb security and stability in the region and negatively impact cross-Taiwan Strait relations, Huang said in the statement.

Such actions are not welcomed by the international community either, Huang continued, adding that it is a shared responsibility and objective for all parties, including both sides of the strait, to maintain peace and stability in the region.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 19, 2018
By: Lee I-chia  /  Staff reporter

A three-month-old baby was last week confirmed to have serious flu complications, the

youngest person this flu season, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.

A total of 61,628 flu-like illness cases, including 25 with serious complications, were reported at clinics and hospitals nationwide last week, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Liu Ting-ping (劉定萍) said in a weekly national disease monitoring report.

A total of 124 cases with serious complications have been reported this flu season, which started on Oct. 1, she said, adding that 77 of them were influenza A virus subtype H3N2 infections.

Eleven flu-related deaths have been confirmed this flu season, of which six were caused by the H3N2 strain and five by influenza A virus subtype H1N1, she added.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan English News
Date: December 17, 2018 
By: Phillip Charlier

Four men who witnessed a man grab a woman in Sanchong District, New Taipei City, went to her assistance and suppressed the man until police arrived, Friday evening, December 14.

At around 11:00pm, Ms Chiang, 20, had finished work at a hairdressing salon and was walking home on Zhengbei Road when a stranger approached her and put his arm around her shoulders. Chiang resisted and the man grabbed her in a headlock. Chiang managed to separate herself twice, but the man repeatedly chased her and grabbed her in a headlock again.

Video footage of the incident shows a man stumbling across the scuffling pair and taking out his cellphone to call the police. Then a group of four men approach from the road and tried to reason with the man to let the woman go.

After the man refused to desist, one man grabbed the attacker from behind and forced him to let go of the woman.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/12/17
By: Wang Cheng-chung and Flor Wang

Taipei, Dec. 17 (CNA) Nearly 2,000 people from countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Oceania who entered Taiwan visa free between Aug. 1, 2016 and March 31 this year cannot be accounted for, the Legislature’s Budget Center said Monday.

As of March 31, there were 1,946 people from those countries who had overstayed their visas and remained unaccounted for, the center said, citing data from the National Audit Office.

In a report, the center said there are no exit records for 1,946 visitors from the 18 countries listed in the government’s New Southbound Policy and their whereabouts are not known to Taiwan authorities.

In addition, 1,441 visitors from the 10 Southeast Asian countries, Australia, New Zealand, India and other South Asian countries were found to have used the documents of another person to remain in Taiwan, while 606 were found to be working illegally, according to the report.    [FULL  STORY]

LANGUAGE ISSUE? A COA official said that despite data showing mostly Taiwanese had been fined, many of them were Vietnamese or Chinese with ROC passports

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 18, 2018
By: Lin Chia-nan  /  Staff reporter

A central emergency operation center to oversee efforts to prevent African swine fever

contagion is to open today, while fines for people caught illegally importing pork products from virus-affected areas have been increased, the Council of Agriculture (COA) said yesterday.

As most Chinese provinces have reported cases and illegal imports of Chinese meat products continue to be intercepted by customs agents, the government will step up prevention measures, the council said.

Premier William Lai (賴清德) and other officials are to attend the center’s first meeting today, COA Deputy Minister Huang Chin-cheng (黃金城) said.

Lai would also attend a nationwide drill simulating an outbreak, which was originally scheduled for Friday, but was postponed to Wednesday next week, Huang said.
[FULL  STORY]

A STRONG 5.1 magnitude earthquake has struck off Hualien County in Taiwan, causing ripples to be felt across the Asian country, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Sunday Express
By: Dan Falvey
Date: Dec 16, 2018

Taiwan earthquake: A 5.1 magnitude quake has struck off Hualien County (Image: USGS)
The quake hit at 9.21pm GMT and was originally reported as being 5.6 in magnitude.

There are no tsunami warnings or casualties reported.

Shock waves from the natural phenomenon were felt across the whole of Taiwan.
[FULL  STORY]

Due to miscommunication, Lu Shiow-yen unknowingly interrupted the performance of Fire Ex. at an event honoring baseball star Chang Tai-shan

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/12/16
By: Duncan Deaeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The newly elected mayor of Taichung Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) made a bit of a social blunder on Saturday night (Dec. 15) at an event celebrating the career of professional baseball star Chang Tai-shan(張泰山) who is retiring from the Taiwanese league.

Due to some miscommunication between event coordinators, mayor-elect Lu accidentally interrupted a performance by the Taiwanese rock band Fire Ex. (滅火器), when she walked out to address the crowd and present an award to Chang, before the band’s set was finished.

Liberty Times reports that no one had informed the mayor that Fire Ex. was expected to play five songs. After the group had finished two, an organizer reportedly told Lu it was alright for her to address the crowd.

Chang’s presence before the audience may have added to the confusion, since he had joined Fire Ex. to excite the crowd before Lu made her appearance.    [FULL  STORY]