Taiwan News
Date: 2017/09/06
By: Taiwan Today,Agencies

Two groups of Taiwan youth agricultural ambassadors will visit Indonesia and the Philippines, respectively, Sept. 10-16 as part of government efforts to foster closer exchanges with the nations under the New Southbound Policy, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Each comprised of 15 university students specializing in agricultural fields, the teams are scheduled to meet with local officials; visit farms, produce wholesalers and Taiwan-owned businesses; observe halal certification procedures and Taiwan-backed cooperation projects; and take part in educational and research exchanges with academics and counterparts.

Among the locations that the Philippines delegation is set to visit are the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development under the Department of Science and Technology, and the International Rice Research Institute headquartered in the city of Los Banos. The Indonesia delegation is expected to meet with officials including Ministry of Agriculture Secretary-General Hari Priyono as well as tour Bogor Agricultural University in West Java province.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/09/06
By: Fan Chin-yi and Kuan-lin Liu

Hanoi, Sept. 6 (CNA) Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has instructed its economic and cultural office and other relevant agencies in Taiwan to ensure a thorough investigation into the death of a Vietnamese worker.

The death of runaway Nguyen Quoc Phi at the hands of the police on Aug. 31 in Hsinchu County has sparked protests from the Vietnamese migrant worker community in Taiwan.

According to a report from Vietnamese media outlet Zing.vn, the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan has requested a thorough investigation into Nguyen’s death and has been cooperating with their counterparts in Vietnam to ensure that the rights of the deceased are observed.

On Monday, the Migrants Empowerment Network in Taiwan called for surveillance footage or other images of the shooting to be released to determine whether the police action abided by protocol.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 07, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) yesterday made a farewell speech at Tainan City

Hall as he prepared to take up his new post as premier, announcing that Tainan City Government Secretary-General Lee Meng-yen (李孟諺) would serve as acting mayor for the next year.

The operations of the city government would continue as usual under the leadership of Lee, Lai said in his final report at city hall.

Lai said he would be able to serve more people when he takes up his new post as premier and that his love for Tainan would never change.

“I am forever indebted to Tainan residents for their support,” Lai said.

He said he was able to make great achievements in the southern city, with the support of his administrative team and residents, which earned him the recognition and trust of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 06, 2017
By: Tsai Wen-chu / Staff reporter

Premier-designate William Lai (賴清德) is a physician-turned-politician who since 2010

has been mayor of Tainan, a southern stronghold for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

A native of what is now New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里), Lai studied at Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School before earning a bachelor of science degree from National Taiwan University’s School of Physical Therapy.

He then attended National Cheng Kung University and received certification as a nephrologist.

He later received a master’s degree in public health from Harvard University’s School of Public Health while serving as a legislator.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 04, 2017
By: Chiu Hao-tang / Staff reporter

Sunflower movement leader Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) yesterday made taunting remarks

about the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), drawing criticism from DPP politicians.

“One party could win the Tainan mayoral election next year even if its candidate is a watermelon,” Lin said, commenting on the city’s established political landscape.
Tainan is regarded as a DPP stronghold; its mayor, William Lai (賴清德) of the DPP, in 2014 won a second term by a landslide and is slated to step down next year after eight years at the helm.

Several DPP lawmakers from Tainan constituencies have expressed their intentions to run in next year’s mayoral election.

Speaking yesterday at the opening of the New Power Party’s (NPP) Tainan headquarters, Lin said: “As people in Tainan are unusually conservative in politics, the DPP could win the mayoral election next year even if it promotes a watermelon as its candidate.”    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Datwe: 2017/09/03
By: Elsie Tsai, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) hosted the 2017 Martyr

Memorial Ceremony in Taipei this morning, as the police designated a protest area for possible protesters outside the ceremony the Armed Forces Day today.

The ceremony was held at the National Revolutionary Martyrs’Shrine in Zhongshan district, Taipei this morning at 9 a.m., to offer an annual sacrifice to honor the martyrs.

President Tsai upheld precedent and paid tributes, accompanied by Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), Premier Lin Chuan (林全), President of the Legislative Yuan Su Chia-chyuan (蘇嘉全), President of the Judicial Yuan Hsu Tzong-li (許宗力), President of the Examination Yuan Wu Jin-lin (伍錦霖) and Vice President of the Control Yuan Sun Ta-chuan (孫大川).

President Tsai first presented a floral wreath, with the national anthem playing, followed by solemnly reading the elegiac address, the Presidential Office said in a statement.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/09/03
By: Lu Hsin-hui and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Sept. 3 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) called a national security

meeting Sunday after North Korea allegedly conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date earlier that day, according to the Presidential Office.

North Korea appears to have carried out another nuclear test, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported, citing military sources.

South Korea’s military revealed the information, citing seismic activity detected in the vicinity of the North’s nuclear test site.

The 5.7 magnitude “artificial earthquake” that occurred in the Punggye-ri area at around 12:29 p.m. is “presumed” to be a result of the North’s sixth nuclear test, the military said.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 04, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA

President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday paid tribute to military personnel who died

for the Republic of China during a service held at the Martyrs’ Shrine in Taipei, as the nation celebrated Armed Forces Day.

Presiding over this year’s Autumn Memorial in Honor of National Martyrs, Tsai, accompanied by senior government officials, lit incense and presented flowers to the spirit tablets of the deceased.

After an oration was read, the president and the other attendees made three bows before the tablets, as is customary, the Presidential Office said in a statement.

Tsai was accompanies by Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), Presidential Office Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Premier Lin Chuan (林全)and Legislative Speaker Su Jia-chyuan (蘇嘉全).    [FULL  STORY]