Page Three

CDC dismisses rumors of impending deadly ‘new Aussie flu’ pandemic

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/03/13
By: Chen Wei-ting and Kuan-lin Liu

Taipei, March 13 (CNA) Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday there is

CNA file photo

no truth to the rumors about a deadly mutated influenza virus, dubbed the “new Aussie flu,” which allegedly poses a risk to millions of people worldwide.

At a press conference, CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said the “new Aussie flu” does not exist, and he urged Taiwan citizens not to panic.

He was responding to a rash of online rumors of an impending flu pandemic caused by a deadly mutation of a flu virus that killed several people in Australia last year.

According to the speculations on social media, the “new Aussie flu” is likely to cause up to 300 million deaths worldwide, but Chuang said there is no data or evidence from Australia’s Department of Health to indicate that a new strain of the virus has developed.
[FULL  STORY]

Consumers’ Foundation criticizes authorities over toilet paper panic

Formosa News
Date: 2018/03/12

Despite the Cabinet’s promises to curb inflation and to keep the price of toilet paper at a reasonable level, the toilet panic continues unabated. Since the start of March, online retailers have raised toilet paper prices by an average of 15%, and high-street shops by more than 30%. Now the Consumers’ Foundation has weighed in to criticize government authorities for failing to protect consumer rights.

At the start of the month, cabinet spokesman Hsu Kuo-Yung denied the existence of a toilet paper shortage, and promised prices would stop rising. But less than two weeks later, his claims look rather flimsy.

If you go to a supermarket and inspect the toilet paper shelves, most are completely bare. When people realized the already inflated prices were keeping to their seemingly endless upward trajectory, many filled up full trolleys to take home.    [FULL  STORY]

Senior US APEC official visits Taiwan

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-03-12

A top US APEC official, Matthew J. Matthews, arrived in Taiwan on Monday. He will visit

President Tsai Ing-wen meet Matthew J. Matthews on Monday (CNA photo)

government agencies and business leaders to discuss regional trade and economic issues. Matthews is also the United States’ Deputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry says that Matthews’ visit will help strengthen economic ties between the US and Taiwan. This is Matthews 5th visit to Taiwan since 2015 when he became Senior Official for APEC.

Matthews has a previous connection to Taiwan, serving as deputy chief of the Economics Office at the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) from 1998-2001. During his time at AIT, which is the de facto US embassy in the absence of official ties, Matthews focused on expanding market access for US financial firms.
[FULL  STORY]

Police raid marijuana grow house in northern Taiwan

Cops bust young engineer for growing marijuana in Tanshui

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/03/12
By: Renée Salmonsen, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Wednesday, March 7 New Taipei City police arrested a 32 year

Police find a makeshift grow house in Tanshui apartment complex. (By Central News Agency)

old engineer, surnamed Chen (陳), for growing marijuana in his home.

After receiving a tip that Chen was growing marijuana in his Tanshui apartment, the police monitored his activity for two months before making an arrest, according to CNA. The investigation was a joint effort between the Criminal Investigation Unit (CIB), the National Highway Police Bureau, and the Shilin District Prosecutor’s Office.

Chen’s prior criminal record also included assault, according to the CIB.

When the police ambushed Chen, they found a hydroponic grow house in his apartment on Binhai Rd. Section 3 in Tanshui (新北市淡水區濱海路3段).    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei, New Taipei unveil monthly pass for MRT and city buses

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/03/12
By: Liang Pei-chi and Ko Lin

Taipei, March 12 (CNA) The mayors of Taipei and New Taipei cities on Monday unveiled a

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲, third right) and New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫, third left)

monthly pass that will give commuters unlimited use of greater Taipei’s public transportation network, including the Mass Rapid Transit system and city buses.

The “All Pass Ticket,” valued at NT$1,280 (US$43.83), will be launched on April 16.

Speaking during a news conference to announce the ticket, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said that as always, people are encouraged to use public transportation to help combat traffic congestion.

Also at the MRT Da’an Station in Taipei, where the announcement was made, New Taipei Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) said he hoped the new pass can help boost daily ridership in greater Taipei’s public transportation system, while improving air quality.

CHINA’S 31 INCENTIVES: Chinese meddling in Taiwan’s affairs sparked ‘social resistance’: academic

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 13, 2018
By: Staff writer, with CNA

In the face of a rising China, a “social resistance” has emerged in Taiwan against Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) “Chinese dream” of bringing about national rejuvenation, Academia Sinica Institute of Sociology associate research fellow Wu Chieh-min (吳介民) said.

Social resistance is a “collective” phenomenon in Taiwanese society and the embodiment of people’s desire and pursuit of a Taiwan-centered identity, Wu said.

The “Chinese dream” Xi aims to achieve and has defined as the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” is also referred to as the “Chinese empire” in the academic community, Wu told a forum hosted by the Taiwan Research Fund on Wednesday.

Taiwanese have put up “social resistance” because Xi has tried to forcefully engage Taiwan in his plan to build a Chinese empire regardless of what Taiwanese think, Wu said.    [FULL  STORY]

Bureau of Energy promises that electricity prices will not rise by more than 3%, amid worries

Formosa News
Date: 2018/03/11

Amid worries about a likely increase in electricity prices, the Bureau of Energy has promised that rates will not rise by more than 3%, ahead of an official decision on Friday. Furthermore, the bureau says, people who use less than 330 kilowatt-hours a month will not see any change. However, experts note that electricity supplier Taipower was NT$2.5 billion in the red in January, and if power prices are not adjusted sufficiently, future generations will have to shoulder a burden of debt.

Ever since the beginning of this year, Taipower has issued an “orange alert” for the nation’s power supply 9 times. It’s not only because people are using hair dryers and heaters interchangably in winter. Experts are also pointing to other reasons behind nation’s high electricity consumption.     [FULL  STORY]

Ministry to budget NT$217 million to rejuvenate Hualien tourism

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-03-11

The transportation ministry is planning budget more than NT$200 million (nearly US$7 million) to help boost tourism in the east coast county of Hualien by the end of 2019. That’s to help the county, where tourism has been affected by a recent earthquake and a drop in visitors from China. Transportation Minister Ho Chen Tan is set to report on the plan in a legislative committee on Monday.

According to a paper version of the report, which has already been sent to the legislature, the total number of visitors to Taiwan last year topped 10.7 million people. That’s an increase of 0.46% over the previous year. About 71% of those visitors came to Taiwan for tourism.   [FULL  STORY]

Following in the footsteps of Taiwanese ancestors on the Jinbaoli Trail

The weather on Friday was dry even though a bit windy, which made it slightly chilly. I decided to hike the Jinbaoli Trail (Fishermen’s Trail) in the Yangmingshan National Park.

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/03/11
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)—The weather on Friday was dry even though a bit windy, which

The Jinbaoli Trail gate (By Taiwan News)

made it slightly chilly. I decided to hike the Jinbaoli Trail (Fishermen’s Trail) in the Yangmingshan National Park.

The Jinbaoli Trail follows an ancient route, which used to be the main route for travel between Shilin in Taipei and Jinbolli (Jinshan, New Taipei City) on the North Coast in the early days when there were no Coastal Highway (Provincial Highway No. 2) and Yangjin Highway (陽金公路). The ancient trail was used by porters to transport such products as fish, sulfur, and tea, and parts of the trail were steep. The trail is said to have been heavily traveled during the Qing Dynasty and used regularly up until 1950’s.

In a way, I was actually following in the footsteps of the early Taiwanese settlers, and I believe the section I traveled on Friday from Qingtiangang to the Shanghuang Creek parking lot is the most beautiful part of the historic trail, where relics of the past could be seen here and there, including the deserted terraced fields, Hanbing’s House and Xuyan Bridge.    [FULL  STORY]

Taoyuan Mayor elected to head Hong Kong and Macau Association

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/03/11
By: Chai Sze-chia and William Yen

Taipei, March 11 (CNA) Taoyuan City Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) took the helm of the

Taoyuan City Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦, third right)

Friends of Hong Kong and Macau Association Sunday (FHKMA) after a board committee vote.

Cheng said he expects the FHKMA to continue to serve as a platform for communication and dialogue between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

Cross-strait relations are crucial, said Cheng, adding that after taking office he will work to see more young people taking part in cross-strait affairs.

He hopes that there can be closer contacts and improved relationships between the people of Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and Macau, said Cheng.    [FULL  STORY]