Taiwan News  
Date: 2018/07/02
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)—Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) said in a press

release on Monday that as the number of THSR passengers is going to break the 500 million mark in the second half of July, the company is embarking on a gift giving activity, with the luckiest 500 millionth passenger winning the jackpot of a year of free THSR rides.

So be sure to keep the stubs of THSR tickets you will purchase in the near future. You could be the luckiest 500 millionth person.

In addition to the jackpot, the THSRC will give away smaller prizes. The two passengers before and after the luckiest 500 millionth passengers will get the “second prize,” which will allow each of the four winners to enjoy a THSR holiday package for two with round-trip “business class” tickets and hotel stay, the company said.

The THSR will also give away the “additional prize” to every 100,000th passenger beginning from the 499 millionth passenger, so a total of 10 passengers will win the additional prize, which is four THSR business class tickets, according to the company.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/07/02
By: Wang Shu-fen, Huang Kuo-chung and Ko Lin

Taipei, July 2 (CNA) Taiwan’s high-speed railway line resumed normal operations Monday

evening after service between Chiayi and Tainan was suspended for nearly two hours because of earthquakes that shook southern Taiwan.

Service was suspended to ensure passenger safety, and technicians were dispatched to conduct inspections at Chiayi Station and tracks in surrounding areas closest to the earthquakes’ epicenter, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) said in a statement.

According to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB), two earthquakes registering magnitudes of 4.6 and 4.5, struck simultaneously within a kilometer of each other off the coast of Chiayi in southern Taiwan at 3:26 p.m. Monday.

The epicenter of the magnitude 4.6 earthquake was located at sea about 19.8 kilometers east of Chiayi County Hall at a depth of 12.1 km, while the other temblor was located about 20.2 km east of the county hall at a depth of 8.9 km.    [FULL  STORY]

The Japan News
Date: July 01, 2018
By: The Yomiuri Shimbun

MINE, Yamaguchi — The city of Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture, plans to launch a bike tour package that travels around tourist destinations with rich natural resources, as part of its efforts to increase the number of tourists from Taiwan.

The tour travels through locations including the Akiyoshidai karst plateau, targeting wealthy tourists from Taiwan, which has been experiencing rapid economic growth.

It plans to propose the tour package to travel agencies and other organizations in Taiwan as early as this summer.

The Mine city government has set up a tourism and promotion office in Taipei.

Learning through the local office that there is a growing demand for sports tourism in Taipei, the city conducted a study on promoting tours to the tourist spots in the city and its neighboring areas with beautiful natural surroundings.    [FULL  STORY]

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 
Date: Jun 29, 2018
By: Joe McDonald, Associated Press

BEIJING — Chinese officials have rejected a U.S. request to discuss their demand that airlines describe self-ruled Taiwan as part of China, an order Washington opposes, the American Embassy in Beijing said Thursday.

American officials have told Chinese authorities the United States “strongly objects” to the demand by President Xi Jinping’s government to call the island “Taiwan, China” on maps and internet menus, the embassy said in a statement.

“We are disappointed that China has refused our request for consultations on this issue,” the embassy said. It said the Trump administration was deciding how to respond.

The Communist Beijing government claims Taiwan, separated from the mainland since 1949 following a civil war, as its own territory. China is using its growing economic importance as leverage to isolate the island’s democratically elected government.    [FULL  STORY]

Male Formosan rock macaque had to be rescued by guards

Taiwan News
Date: 2018/06/30
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A monkey broke into Taipei Zoo but had to receive medical

care after being beaten up by residents, reports said Saturday.

On June 24, an adult male Formosan rock macaque entered the zoo’s “monkey island” and became entangled in a fight with the original residents, the Central News Agency reported.

The stranger scratched one of the female monkeys, which led to a full-scale brawl with an injured macaque as a result.

Zoo guards and a veterinarian had to intervene to free the wild animal from his attackers and provide him with care at the zoo’s medical facilities.

Macaques possess a strong sense of territory and will attack anyone who disturbs their domain, even fellow macaques, CNA reported.    [SOURCE]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/06/30
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, June 30 (CNA) Public parking lots must reserve around 2 percent of their

spaces for pregnant women and families with children aged 6 or under, according to transportation regulations that will go into effect on Sunday.

The parking lots affected by this program are those affiliated with public places, including department stores, train stations, airports, hospitals and amusement parks.

The new rule stipulates that such family-friendly parking spaces should be at least 2.5 meters in width and 5.5 meters in length to provide safe and convenient access for the women and children.

The establishment of those parking spaces should be completed by Dec. 15, and people who meet the criteria could obtain specific parking permits from hospitals and public health centers, said the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
[FULL  STORY]

CHANGES: Canadian Trade Office Executive Director Mario Ste-Marie announced he is to step down after nearly three years and was awarded the Friendship Medal of Diplomacy

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 01, 2018
By: Lin Chia-nan  /  Staff reporter

The Taiwan Society and other groups yesterday urged Canadian airlines not to bow to

pressure from China and to stop listing Taiwan as a part of China on their Web sites.

Many companies have changed Taiwan’s designation on their Web sites since Beijing in April sent letters to 36 global airlines demanding that they refer to Taiwan as a part of its territory. Among the carriers was Air Canada, which last month started referring to Taiwan’s capital as “Taipei, China” on its booking Web site.

The Canadian government would not intervene in the firm’s “commercial” decision, Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Executive Director Mario Ste-Marie said last month, but added that it is opposed to China putting pressure on Canadian firms.

The groups held a news conference at Taipei’s Hakka Cultural Park, where the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan was holding a Canada Day celebration, calling on Ottawa to push the airline to reverse the change.    [FULL  STORY]