Radio Taiwan International
Date: 03 August, 2020
By: Katherine Wei

The ruling party’s candidate for Kaohsiung mayor, Chen Chi-mai, has broader support than his competitors. That’s according to a new poll out on Monday.

The Taiwan Brain Trust, a DPP-leaning think tank, found 53.7% support for Chen. That’s compared to 14.4% for the Kuomintang’s Li Mei-jhen, and 8.3% for the Taiwan People Party’s Wu Yi-jheng. 

Just over 70% of the people who responded to the Taiwan Brain Trust survey said they plan to vote in the by-election.     [FULL  STORY]

Japan Times
Date: Aug 3, 2020
By:  Brad Glosserman

COMMENTARY

Lee Teng-hui, one of Asia’s democracy icons, died last week at the age of 97. As president of Taiwan, he steered the island faithfully and unswervingly toward democracy, promoting Taiwanese identity and, later in life, independence. In stark contrast to that singular focus and mission, his life was an extraordinary meander, a journey that spanned the political spectrum and during which he delighted in provoking all who challenged him.

Lee was born in 1923 to a well-off family in a farming community in northern Taiwan, several decades into the Japanese rule of the island. His father worked for the colonial rulers as part of the police. Lee earned a scholarship to study agronomy at Kyoto Imperial University. While there, he enlisted in the Japanese Imperial Army, rising to the rank of second lieutenant, although he never saw action during World War II.

Detailed to Taiwan during the conflict, he was ordered back to Japan before the war’s close. He remained in Japan after surrender and finished his degree in 1946. Lee returned to Taiwan to study agricultural science at National Taiwan University. In one of the meanders that marked his life, Lee joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1946, feeling that it could help him promote Taiwanese identity, although he soon left the party, disillusioned.

All the while, Lee focused on agricultural economics, getting a masters degree from Iowa State University and then joining the Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction, a U.S.-sponsored program to promote modernization of Taiwan’s agricultural sector. He also taught at two universities in Taiwan before returning to the United States to get a Ph.D. in agricultural economics at Cornell University.    [FULL  STORY]

Op-ed calls on Quad countries to strengthen Taiwan to counter belligerent actions by China

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/08/03
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — In response to heightened tensions with China after a deadly border clash in June, an Indian news site asserted that the South Asian country should join with its Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) partners in strengthening relations with Taiwan to help keep the communist country in check.

Tensions continue to mount between India and China after the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) allegedly attacked and killed 20 Indian soldiers in the disputed border region of Ladakh in June. On Sunday (Aug. 2), Indian media outlet The Sunday Guardian posted an op-ed by Dr. Nagao Satoru, visiting fellow at the Hudson Institute, arguing why it is important for India fellow Quad members the U.S., Japan, and Australia, to strengthen ties with Taiwan to deter China's belligerent actions.

The piece listed three reasons why Taiwan is key to the Quad countries' containment of China. The first is Taiwan's strategic location between the East China Sea and South China Sea.

From the Indian point of view, if Taiwan, the U.S., and Japan team up to bolster defenses in the region, China will have to allocate more of its budget and forces to the area, rather than to its border with the South Asian county. Nagao argued that Taiwan's existence as a defended independent country currently keeps China's navy in check, while unification would enable Beijing "to use its naval power far more effectively."    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 08/03/2020
By Lin Chang-shun and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Aug. 3 (CNA) The Taipei District Court rejected late Sunday a prosecutors' request to detain independent lawmaker Chao Cheng-yu (趙正宇) in a bribery case and instead ordered him released on NT$1 million bail.

The court, however, did approve a request to have Chao's office chief Lin Chia-chi (林家騏) detained and held incommunicado, following a court hearing.

Unhappy with the court's ruling, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office said it has filed an appeal to the Taiwan High Court over the lower court's ruling to free Chao.

The High Court will consider the appeal based on documents submitted by the prosecutors through the Taipei District Court, but as of the end of Monday, it had yet to receive the filings.
[FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 31 July, 2020
By: Katherine Wei

The Presidential Office announced Friday that it is setting up a public memorial for former President Lee Teng-hui at the Taipei Guesthouse.

The former president passed away on Thursday evening. He was 98 years-old. 
[FULL  STORY]

ANI
Date: Jul 31, 2020

Dharamshala [Himachal Pradesh], July 31 (ANI): Dalai Lama on Friday expressed his condolence over the demise of former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui.
In a letter to Lee Teng-hui's wife Tseng Wen-hui, Dalai Lama wrote, "As you know, I had the honour of meeting your husband during my first visit to Taiwan in 1997 when he was the first popularly elected President. Subsequently, we met again in Taiwan and at Peace Forums elsewhere and I regard him as a personal friend."
"His contribution to Taiwan's democratic development was an exceptional achievement. Today, Taiwan is a vibrant and prosperous democracy with a rich cultural heritage. Perhaps the best tribute we can pay him is to remember his courage and determination and emulate his dedication to democracy," he added. (ANI)    [SOURCE]

Taiwan Design Expo in October features high-end technology and recycling economy

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/07/31
By: Lyla Liu, Taiwan News, Staff Reporter

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan Design Expo 2020, featuring high-end technology and the recycling economy, is slated to take place in central Taiwan's Hsinchu City, in October.

Hosted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, it will take place in Hsinchu for the first time. The exhibition focuses on tech, recycling, and local food culture, according to the press release.

Tammy Liu (劉真蓉) said exhibition areas include Hsinchu Park, Hsinchu Bus Station, and the old town area. Additionally, there will be a market, art installations, and live performances.

Hsinchu is an important center for developing high-end technology, such as semiconductor manufacturing and photoelectricity. Hence the exhibition connects with local companies and designers to unveil the mystery of technology. Companies like Spring Pool Glass will show off its glass recycling technology.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 07/31/2020
By: Liu Chien-pang and Ko Lin

Taipei, July 31 (CNA) The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) on Friday said it has arrested eight Chinese crew members aboard a mainland-registered vessel that was caught illegally dredging sea sand in waters around the Penghu archipelago.

The Hai Sheng 877 (海盛877) was intercepted at around 5 a.m. Thursday after it was spotted illegally operating 56 nautical miles southwest of Qimei Township, the southernmost island in Penghu, which is situated in the Taiwan Strait.

The coast guard has recently ramped up efforts to clamp down on Chinese vessels entering Penghu's waters to mine the area for sea sand.    [FULL  STORY]