Taipei Times
Date: Sep 26, 2018
By: Sean Lin  /  Staff reporter

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday accused

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) New Taipei City mayoral candidate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) of being “rude” to a borough warden who was trying to petition him on Sunday about the construction of a new Shenao Power Plant.

The former premier had just left the opening ceremony for his campaign office in Rueifang District (瑞芳) when Longshan Borough (龍山) Warden Chen Chih-chiang (陳志強), who is also the director of the Anti-Shenao Plant Self-Help Group, greeted him and asked him to publicly express his stance on the coal-fired plant.

“Do you know what we are doing here today?” Su said, patting Chen on the shoulder, in footage posted by Chen on Facebook.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-09-24

Fields of yellowish orange daylilies are in full bloom in Toushe Township in

Nantou County, central Taiwan. While the bright flowers are often associated with the eastern counties of Hualien and Taitung, visitors can enjoy them during the Mid-Autumn Festival in central Taiwan.

Toushe Township is close to Sun Moon Lake, an iconic tourist attraction in central Taiwan. The fields of blooming flowers have recently become a popular place to check-in on Facebook.

A sea of yellow daylilies forms a beautiful backdrop for wedding photos. A couple from Hong Kong have traveled to Nantou just to have their pictures taken.    [FULL  STORY]

Bangkok Post
Date: 24 Sep 2018
By: South China Morning Post

Taiwan, battling a severe brain drain to the mainland, plans to offer citizenship to students and skilled workers from Southeast Asian nations under proposed legislation that will head to the self-ruled island’s lawmakers for review and a vote next month.

The economic immigration bill is Taipei’s response to Beijing’s initiatives that have lured talent away from Taiwan, which China’s leadership sees as a wayward province to be brought back into the fold — if necessary, by force.

It would target Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar and other Asean member countries. If approved, the bill could take effect early next year.

Besides allowing Taipei to address the problem of a growing number of Taiwanese professionals surrendering to the lure of mainland jobs and other incentives, the bill is seen as a way for Taiwan to tackle the dilemma of a declining working-age population, officials and analysts said.
[FULL  STORY]

CNN published an article recognizing the ‘stunning’ historic railway that turned 106 years old in 2018

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/09/24
By: Duncan DeAeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – International News media organization CNN published a piece exploring the history of Taiwan’s Alishan Forest Railroad, and the beauty of Taiwan’s central mountain range.

The Alishan Forest Railway dates back to 1912, when it was constructed by the Japanese Colonial Government to assist in logging. Now it is celebrating its 106th year, and has become an important cultural symbol, and a fantastic tourist attraction in central Taiwan.

Covering around 71.4 kilometers of tracks over the steep, winding, and often misty mountainside, the Alishan Railroad seemingly takes riders on a trip through time, providing panoramic views of the lush forests and quaint mountain rail stations along the way.

A trip on the Alishan Forest Railway can be an excellent escape from the hustle and bustle of Taiwan’s cities, and may remind visitors of a time when life was simpler. Liao Yuan-chiao, a train captain is quoted in the report “It feels more human, unlike the cold and automated modern machines.”
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/09/24
By: Chu Tse-wei and Shih Hsiu-chuan

Taipei, Sept. 24 (CNA) Taiwan is scheduled to launch a new research

vessel in late October to conduct marine research in the waters south of the country that might involve scientists from the Philippines and Vietnam to enhance its research capability and increase its international visibility.

The 2,629-ton ship named the Legend (勵進), constructed in Vietnam by Triyards Marine Services, a Singapore shipbuilder, has the capacity to accommodate 19 crew members and 24 researchers. It can sail up to 30 days without refueling, according to National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs).

NARLabs will have discussions with local marine researchers in the coming days to determine topics to be researched during the ship’s maiden voyage, including such possible options as underwater exploration and combustible ice exploration, said Wang Chau-chang (王兆璋), director of the Taiwan Ocean Research Institute at NARLabs.    [FULL  STORY]

A suppressed Google memo reportedly claims ‘Dragonfly’ will provide a ‘Chinese partner’ with ‘unilateral access’ to all user data via database located in Taiwan

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/09/22
By: Duncan DeAeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – New information has emerged concerning the proposed Google search engine and suite of applications being designed to meet the censorship standards of the Chinese Communist Party.

The “Dragonfly” search engine project also potentially involves a server located in Taiwan, according to the most recent Intercept report.

According to the report, the application suite will require users to log-in to an account linked to their phone number before they can perform searches or utilize other services. User accounts will also be tracked by location via smart devices and log-in IP information.

Most disconcerting of all, according to a memo that Google executives have reportedly ordered destroyed, the suite of applications is being designed to provide a “Chinese partner” with “unilateral access” to all of the data collected by Dragonfly.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/09/22
By: Elaine Hou and Flor Wang

Taipei, Sept. 22 (CNA) Diplomacy is not a “zero-sum” game and cementing a long-lasting

and stable diplomatic relationship with the Vatican is the top priority of Taiwan, Taipei-based Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Saturday.

“Taiwan-Vatican ties are stable because the two sides share the same values in democracy, human rights and religious freedom,” MOFA spokesman Andrew Lee (李憲章) told CNA at a time of rampant media reports about the possible breakthrough in ties between China and the Holly See and whether this would lead to a severing of diplomatic ties between Taiwan and its only official diplomatic ally in Europe.

“We believe that the Vatican must have held talks with China based on concern and respect for human rights and freedom of religion,” Lee said, stressing that “the most important thing for Taiwan is to continue maintaining a long-lasting and stable relationship with the Vatican.”

Foreign news services have reported that China and the Vatican have been advancing in talks related to the appointment of bishops in China and that the Vatican might send a delegation to Beijing before the end of this month to clinch a deal on the issue.
[FULL  STORY]