Page Three

Taiwanese submarines will be affordable: CSBC

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 17, 2017
By: Staff writer, with CNA

A home-grown submarine will cost less than NT$100 billion (US$3.29 billion) to build, according to the local shipbuilder commissioned to plan and design the vessel.

Reports had said that comparable Japanese submarines carried a price tag of NT$100 billion, but the Taiwanese project could be completed for less, CSBC Corp chairman Cheng Wen-lon (鄭文隆) said.

However, Cheng also said that much depends on the Navy’s demands: Planned crew sizes, mission length and strategic and tactical requirements would all determine the eventual size of the submarine.

Nationally developed ships would be crucial to the company’s future operations, Cheng said, pledging to place the company’s best personnel on the program.  [FULL  STORY]

From the ashes of Uber, illegal cabs enjoy revival

The China Post
Date: April 17, 2017
By: 資James-Lo

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Uber Taiwan, after four years of illegal operations, suspended

Uber Taiwan General Manager Ku Li-kai (顧立楷) and Uber General Manager for Asia-Pacific Mike Brown field questions from the local press after the company returned to Taiwan, Thursday April 13. (CNA)

operations on Feb. 10 in the face of mounting government fines.

The government had handed the firm a NT$831 million (approx. US$25.2 million) bill for 35 separate violations of Taiwan’s transportation laws.

The suspension announcement drew criticism from both local Uber drivers and riders, with a significant coterie of the ride-sharing firm’s drivers protesting outside of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications on the day of the suspension, and again on Feb. 26.

However, the 300 drivers that turned up at the Feb. 26 protest represented only a fraction of those working through Uber. So where were the rest?    [FULL  STORY]

Taichung MRT extension to Changhua necessary: Cabinet

Radio TaiWan International
Date: 2017-04-15

The Cabinet says that an extension of Taichung’s subway system into nearby Changhua

Cabinet spokesperson Hsu Kuo-yung (right)

County is a necessary move to boost the county’s economic development. (Photo by CNA)

The Cabinet says that an extension of Taichung’s subway system into nearby Changhua County is a necessary move to boost the county’s economic development.

Much of Taichung’s metro system is still in the planning stages or under construction.

President Tsai Ing-wen’s announcement of the planned Changhua extension Friday met with criticism from opposition KMT lawmakers, who said the plan was unnecessary and wasteful.

On Saturday, Cabinet spokesperson Hsu Kuo-yung responded that Changhua County has a high population density and needs a more efficient transportation system. He said a subway connection between Changhua and Taichung will help commuters. Hsu also said the president’s decision is aimed at boosting the economic development of central Taiwan, which lags behind cities in the north of the island.    [SOURCE]

Chinese dissident disappears in Taiwan

Zhang Xiangzhong reportedly inspired by Lee Ming-che’s wife

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/04/15
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A Chinese activist once detained in his country for “causing

Photo from New Citizens Movement xgmyd.com

social disorder” disappeared the day after he arrived in Taiwan with a tour group, reports said Saturday.

Zhang Xiangzhong (張向忠), 48, had registered for a tour of eight days and seven nights around Taiwan from April 12 through April 19, according to media reports.

However, on April 13, he left his tour group, with the Tourism Bureau unable to contact him after learning of the incident.

In an interview with Radio Free Asia (RFA), Zhang claimed he had applied for political asylum with the government in Taiwan in a reaction to the detention in China of human rights activists Lee Ming-che (李明哲). The former Democratic Progressive Party worker disappeared in China on March 19, with the authorities there only admitting later they had detained him, supposedly on suspicion of activities detrimental to national security.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan makes preparations in event of terror attack at Universiade

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/04/15
By: Wen Kuei-hsiang and Lilian Wu

Taipei, April 15 (CNA) In the event of a major security breach or terrorist attack during the Universiade Taipei 2017, an emergency response mechanism will be activated, the Office of Homeland Security under the Executive Yuan said Saturday.

A report by the office said Universiade Taipei is the biggest sports event ever held in Taiwan and following an analysis of terror attacks and the domestic security situation by the National Security Bureau, lists areas requiring special attention during the sports event which will be held from Aug. 19-30.

These include natural disasters, border security, terrorist attacks, security at competition venues and athlete villages, traffic safety, key infrastructure safety,and information and communications security.    [FULL  STORY]

Environmentalists call for protection of Taoyuan reef

Taipei Times
Date: Apr 16, 2017
By: Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

About 100 people yesterday gathered near the Presidential Office in Taipei, calling for

Taoyuan’s Datan District environmental group yesterday protests in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei against a planned natural gas project that they say could harm algal reefs. Photo: CNA

the government to protect coastal algal reefs that could be endangered by the planned construction of a natural gas processing plant in Taoyuan’s Datan District (大潭).

State-owned CPC Corp, Taiwan (CPC) plans to build its third natural gas processing plant on reclaimed land in Taoyuan’s Kuanyin Industrial Park (觀音工業區) next to the reefs.

The plan is to be discussed in an upcoming environmental impact assessment meeting.

The protest was organized by environmentalists who said they have been concerned about the reefs for many years.    [FULL STORY]

Gov’t retrieves frequencies from ex-KMT stations

The China Post
Date: April 16, 2017
By: The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Broadcasting Corp. of China (BCC), Taiwan’s largest radio broadcast network, saw two of its FM frequencies terminated beginning Saturday 12 a.m., in accordance with an administrative decree issued by the National Communications Commission (NCC).

The audience of the BCC’s Formosa Network (寶島網) and

i-Radio Network (音樂網) can

now only listen to programs of the two networks online through apps.

Their frequencies will be used for two new national networks, one for Hakka speakers and the other for indigenous peoples, which will be run by the Hakka Affairs Council and the Indigenous People Cultural Foundation, respectively, according to the NCC.
[FULL  STORY]

New ‘three strikes’ rule passed for career soldiers

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-04-14

Career soldiers who accumulate three major demerits in one year will be expelled from the military. That’s according to an amendment to a statute governing the country’s enlisted personnel which passed the legislature on Friday.

The amendment is part of government plans to improve the way personnel are evaluated.

Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Wang Ding-yu said the amendment offers the military a better legal framework to kick out personnel who fail to meet the standards expected of them.    [FULL  STORY]

Taipei job fair aimed at overseas compatriots takes place Saturday

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/04/14
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A job fair aimed to assist Southeast Asia-based Taiwanese

A large number of students attended a job fair held by the OCAC at Taichung’s Feng Chia University on March 14. (Image courtesy of OCAC)

businesses in tapping into the talent pool of overseas compatriot students is to take place in Taipei on Saturday. 120 companies will be recruiting for more than 1,500 jobs.

The fair will be held between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the lobby of Taipei Main Station on April 15, and overseas compatriot students, foreign students and Taiwanese students interested in working abroad are welcome to attend the fair, the organizer Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) said.

The first of its kind was held at Feng Chia University in Taichung on March 14, attracting large number of job seekers from locals and overseas compatriot and foreign students studying in Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]

Eager to promote referrals, NHIA adjusting cost of health care

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/04/14
By: Chen Wei-ting and Lilian Wu

Taipei, April 14 (CNA) Co-payments for outpatient and emergency care will be adjusted

NHIA chief Lee Po-chang

starting on Saturday in the government’s latest initiative to bolster the country’s medical referral system and use health care resources more efficiently.

For outpatient care, co-payments will be reduced for visits to medical centers and regional hospitals by NT$40 to NT$170 and NT$100, respectively, if the patient has a referral from a small hospital or clinic.

But individuals who seek care at a medical center — the highest accredited type of medical institution in the country — without a referral, will see their co-payments go up NT$60 to NT$420.    [FULL  STORY]