Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/09/24
By: Ku Chuan and S.C. Chang

Taipei, Sept. 24 (CNA) A former official from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) said

Sunday the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has a duty to establish official communications between Taiwan and China.

Su Chi (蘇起), former secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), told an academic seminar that the DPP and the Communist Party of China (CPC) — China’s ruling party — hold diametrically opposing views about the “1992 consensus” which Beijing considers the political foundation for official exchanges between Taiwan and China and has cited as a reason for breaking off exchanges with the DPP government, which denies the existence of such a consensus.

The CPC views the “1992 consensus” as an agreement between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China. The DPP simply denies its existence, though it admits there were talks between the governments of Taiwan and China that year and both sides did reach some agreements, none of which include Taiwan’s agreement that it is part of China.
[FULL  STORY]

PRESIDENTIAL RUN:Former president Lee Teng-hui said it was still too early to talk about Premier William Lai running for president, but that he was deserving of people’s support

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 25, 2017
By: Lo Tien-pin and Jonathan Chin  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

Premier William Lai (賴清德) yesterday visited former president Lee Teng-hui (李登

輝), who during a chat told Lai that the nation needs to boost its energy production before it can attract enterprises to invest in its industries.

The meeting at Lee’s home was the latest in a series of visits Lai has been making to veteran politicians since taking up the premiership on Sept. 8, including to former premiers Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and Yu Shyi-kun, former vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Wang Jin-pyng (王金平).

Lee in 1996 became the first democratically elected president of Taiwan, and Lai praised him for initiating a “silent democratic revolution” and overseeing the country’s economic development, Lai said.

“The nation has great respect for [former] president Lee Teng-hui and I come as the new premier to ask his advice. I also came to convey President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) greetings for the Mid-Autumn Festival” Lai told reporters.    [FULL  STORY]

When you visit this tiny island in the South China Sea, be sure to go on an empty stomach

Hindustan Times
Date: Sep 24, 2017
By: Rupali Dean, Hindustan Times

You could visit Taiwan, a tiny island country in the South China Sea, for its almost

implausible sights. Not to mention its interesting accommodations, plush tea arenas and craggy coastlines with swaggering turquoise waters. However, in this small nation bursting with diversity, it’s best to arrive on an empty stomach, because, as far as I’m concerned, Taiwan is all about the food.

Oh oysters, walk with us

Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, is a scrumptious city to live in. Seriously. Its major sport is arguing over which night market has the best oyster omelette. Though I’m just a visitor, my vote would go to the one in Shilin, where the omelette is a bit chewy thanks to the addition of tapioca starch, and decadent thanks to being soaked in a dense sweet chilli sauce.    [FULL  STORY]

Event at Taipei Railway Station open until 6 p.m. Sunday

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/09/23
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The organization of an annual Asia Pacific Culture Day at

the Taipei Railway Station can help the government’s New Southbound Policy (新南向政策), Premier William Lai (賴清德) said at the event Saturday.

Since the government of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) took office in May last year, the New Southbound Policy has been a key element in trying to promote relations with the countries of South Asia and Southeast Asia.

On Saturday, Lai visited the stalls of six Pacific allies and of 19 other countries in the region in the annual event organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central News Agency reported.   [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/09/23
By: Chen Chi-ching and Ko Lin

Taipei, Sept. 23 (CNA) The beauty from Romania was crowned as Miss Global Charity Queen 2017 in offshore Penghu County Saturday, a contest that saw representatives from more than 40 countries around the world.

The final contest took stage at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Penghu’s Magong City, where Elisabeta Eliza Ancau from Romania edged past four other finalists to win this year’s crown.

The Global Charity Queen, sponsored by the Penghu County government, was designed to promote Penghu’s tourism resources and the 2018 World Congress of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/09/22
By: Taiwan Today,Agencies

(Taiwan News) An exhibition featuring works by six Taiwan and one French artist will

kick off Sept. 27 in Paris as part of an annual festival aimed at showcasing artistic affinity among the world’s cultures.

Organized by the Taiwan Cultural Center in Paris, the show “Carnets du flaneur” is being staged at Galerie Frederic Moisan for the 2017 Week of Foreign Cultures in Paris. The participating artists are photographers Cheng Jen-pei, Wang Hsiang-lin and Wu Chuan-lun, installation artist Lin Cheng-wei, and filmmakers Lin Shih-chieh, Niu Jun-quian and France’s Gwenola Wagon.

According to the cultural center, the event features diverse works on the theme “flaneur,” which refers to a person who saunters around observing society. Based on this approach, the artists explore such topics as historical reflections, social interactions and urban development.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/09/22
By: Elaine Hou and Kuan-lin Liu

Taipei, Sept. 22 (CNA) Taiwan has decided to donate US$100,000 for earthquake

relief in Mexico, according to a statement released Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

The decision comes after multiple statements from MOFA expressing condolences and a commitment to help in the aftermath of Mexico’s 7.1-magnitude earthquake which occurred on Tuesday.

Vice Foreign Minister Jose Maria Liu (劉德立) has spoken to Martin Torres, head of Mexico’s representative office in Taipei, about the donation that is aimed at expressing Taiwan’s sincere concern and care for the victims of the tragedy, as well as helping reunite family members.

MOFA spokeswoman Eleanor Wang (王珮玲) told CNA that when the donation will take place is a decision that Taiwan will make after discussing the issue with the Mexican authorities.  [FULL  STORY]