• Calling the island’s safety a ‘red line’, deputy defence minister Yasuhide Nakayama urged Biden to take a similar line on Taiwan as outgoing President Trump
• ‘We are concerned China will expand its aggressive stance into areas other than Hong Kong,’ he says

South China Morning Post
Date: 25 Dec, 2020
By: Reuters

A top Japanese defence official on Friday urged US President-elect Joe Biden to “be strong” in supporting Taiwan in the face of an aggressive China, calling the island’s safety a “red line.”

“We are concerned China will expand its aggressive stance into areas other than Hong Kong. I think one of the next targets, or what everyone is worried about, is Taiwan,” Japan’s deputy defence minister Yasuhide Nakayama said.

Nakayama urged Biden to take a similar line on Taiwan as outgoing President Donald Trump, who has significantly boosted military sales to the self-ruled island and increased engagement.
[FULL  STORY]

Teng Hsin-Ting and Joseph Tiangco dedicate their time to causes ranging from domestic violence survivors to victims of Syrian civil war

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/12/25
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A non-profit organization funded by a Taiwanese woman and her Filipino husband is calling for support this festive season as it seeks to build a loving home for children with irreversible brain injuries resulting from domestic violence.

Depending on the severity of the brain injury, the children experience various neuromuscular issues, including problems swallowing food and eating by themselves, a general difficulty performing actions such as crawling, grabbing objects, and walking, and cerebral palsy — an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of neurodevelopmental deficits.

Young survivors of domestic violence and trauma might not be well cared for at existing orphanages in Taiwan due to the difficulties involved in tending to their special needs. According to the United Nations Children's Fund's (UNICEF) 2013 Factsheet, these children, especially girls, are the most vulnerable to further abuse and neglect during their time in institutions. UNICEF data also show that improper healthcare management in unsupervised institutions often leads to increased morbidity and mortality.

Teng Hsin-Ting (鄧馨庭) and her husband, Dr. Joseph Anthony Narciso Z. Tiangco (田安克) experienced this firsthand four years ago.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 12/25/2020
By: Flor Wang and Chen Yun-yu

Taipei, Dec. 25 (CNA) A Chinese Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine patrol plane and another Y-8 surveillance plane entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Friday but left the area after Taiwan responded to their intrusion.

According to the website of the Ministry of National Defense (MND), the Y-8 anti-submarine patrol plane entered the southwestern part of Taiwan's ADIZ, while the Y-8 surveillance plane flew over the Bashi Strait and flew across much of the southern part of the ADIZ.

The military scrambled planes to intercept the planes, issued radio warnings and mobilized surveillance and air defense assets to deal with the intrusion, which has almost become a daily occurrence in recent months due to deteriorating relations between the two sides.

The incident was the latest in a string of similar deployments by China's military into Taiwan's ADIZ and across the median line of the Taiwan Strait since Sept. 17, when the MND began to inform the public of movements of Chinese military aircraft near Taiwan on its website.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 24 December, 2020
By: John Van Trieste

It’s been a big week for Taiwan’s hardcore railway fans. Decades after Taiwan’s first stretch of railway was electrified, the entire railroad that loops around the island is now fully electrified.

It’s a scene that recalls the run-up to the launch of a new iPhone. Long lines of people, some of them in place since the night before patiently await for doors to open. But these people aren’t waiting in front of a store: they’re sitting in a train station, waiting to take part in a historic moment for Taiwan’s railways.

The Southern Link Line has been fully electrified, and the old diesel trains are no more. This stretch of track is the last piece of Taiwan’s round-the-island railway to open to electric trains, allowing for non-stop island-wide service that will shave up to half an hour off of journeys.
[FULL  STORY]

1.56 million workers expected to benefit from minimum monthly wage increase

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/12/24
By: Ching-Tse Cheng, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's minimum monthly wage will be raised to NT$24,000 (US$852.9) and the minimum hourly wage to NT$160 at the start of next year.

According to the Ministry of Labor, the Cabinet has approved raising the minimum monthly wage by NT$200, with the hourly wage to increase by NT$2. The changes will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 12/24/2020
By: Chen Yun-yu and intern Amber Wu

Taipei, Dec. 24 (CNA) TaiDoc Technology, a Taiwanese manufacturer of health monitoring systems and devices, on Wednesday donated 300,000 rapid screening tests for COVID-19 to Taiwan's diplomatic allies.

At a ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the tests were accepted by Ambassador Jasmine Huggins of St. Christopher and Nevis, dean of the diplomatic corps in Taiwan, on behalf of the allies.

The 300,000 rapid screening tests donated by TaiDoc Technology will be shared among all of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, excluding the Holy See. The tests will also be given to Somaliland, a self-declared East African state that formally opened its representative office in Taiwan in September.

At the donation ceremony, Vice Foreign Minister Miguel Tsao (曹立傑) said screening remains an important preventative measure despite the growing availability of COVID-19 vaccines.
[FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Dec 25, 2020
By: Yang Hsin-hui, Chang Hsuan-che
and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writer

The Taipei City Government yesterday announced that it would set up restricted areas in front of the center stage for its New Year’s Eve party, adding that it might take further measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, including only allowing a reduced audience.

The city government might stream the celebration on Thursday next week, to allow people to virtually participate, it said.

The city government would enforce the Central Epidemic Command Center’s (CECC) regulations, as announced by the center on Tuesday, and close disease prevention loopholes by setting up further restrictions at the event.

It would ask attendees to register with the organizers, the city government said.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 22 December, 2020
By: Shirley Lin

The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Tuesday announced that starting Wednesday Dec. 23 at midnight, all those who enter Taiwan from the UK or have traveled to the UK within the last 14 days will be put in a centralized quarantine facility. The announcement came after the UK reported a new strain of the coronavirus in the country.

In addition, the number of flights from London to Taipei will be reduced by half starting the 23rd. The Civil Aeronautics Administration said that the two main airlines of Taiwan, namely China Airlines and EVA Air, will take turns flying to and from the UK. 
[FULL  STORY]