Page Three

Wife, rights groups urge Lee’s release

IN THE DARK:One human rights advocate said Beijing’s failure to notify Taipei of Lee Ming-che’s arrest within 24 hours violated his human rights and cross-strait accords

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 30, 2017
By: Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter

Following confirmation yesterday of the detention of Taiwanese human rights advocate

Lee Ching-yu, center, wife of human rights advocate Lee Ming-che, calls for Beijing to release her husband at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. The text on signs held by human rights advocates reads: “Release Lee Ming-che.” Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times

Lee Ming-che (李明哲) by Chinese authorities, Lee’s wife and civil rights groups called for his immediate release and condemned Beijing for holding him incommunicado for undisclosed reasons.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office announced that Lee was being investigated on suspicion of “endangering national security” and was “currently in good physical condition,” which was the first official confirmation of his detention since he arrived in China from Macau on March 19.

Following the announcement, Lee’s wife, Lee Ching-yu (李淨瑜), called on Beijing to immediately release her husband, clarify the charges brought against him and ensure his rights.    [FULL  STORY]

Demonstrators bring traffic to a halt across Taipei

The China Post
Date: March 30, 2017
By: Stephanie Chao

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Thousands of demonstrators paralyzed traffic across Taipei Wednesday, as they protested the government’s efforts to push through reforms to the national pension system.

The large-scale and sometimes violent demonstrations came as the Executive Yuan and Examination Yuan prepared to pass separate pension reform bills on Thursday.

Should the Executive Yuan and the Examination Yuan approve the bills, they will be sent to the Legislative Yuan for review and ratification.

The protesters — made up of retired military officers, police, firefighters and public servants — were spread out across seven locations.    [FULL  STORY]

TRA launches Indonesian, Vietnamese language services

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-03-28

From Tuesday, volunteers are helping the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) offer Indonesian and Vietnamese language services at major western line stops. The services cater to Indonesian and Vietnamese workers on weekends.

The TRA’s deputy director-general, Ho Hsien-lin, said Tuesday that the office recruited 18 speakers of Indonesian and Vietnamese as volunteers in January.

Ho said, “Our new immigrants are very talented. Not only do they speak Taiwanese and Mandarin but they also speak English. Some speak Vietnamese and Indonesian. They often know four or more languages, quite extraordinary. I am quite moved when I see them at work. They don’t just offer service to immigrants. They are also very kind to our seniors. That was more than I had expected.”

With Taiwan hoping to see an increase in tourism from Southeast Asia, the TRA plans to provide Indonesian and Vietnamese announcements at more stations in the future. The administration also hopes to offer Thai language services.    [FULL  STORY]

Joss paper store owner threatened with NT$100,000 fine for burning ghost money

Hell to pay: Joss paper store owner could face NT$100,000 fine the next time he tries to burn his product

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/03/28
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A store owner of a joss paper (金紙) shop, which had been

Image of burning joss paper by flickr user Yohmi

open for more than 20 years, was recently told by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspector that he could be fined up to NT$100,000 for burning ghost money in front of his store in Kaohsiung.

Sanli News (三立新聞) reported a few days ago that an EPA inspector asked the owner of a joss paper store if he had been burning the divine dollars in his doorway, to which he replied “yes.” The inspector told him that if he was caught burning the transcendent tender, as an individual he would be fined NT$5,000 to NT$100,000 and as a company owner he could face fines of NT$100,000 to NT$300,000.

To this the owner responded “if it’s going to be like that, how can people make a living?” The inspector reportedly said, “that’s a matter for your family to resolve.”
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan hosts largest wintering population of black-faced spoonbills

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/03/28
By: Chen Cheng-wei and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, March 28 (CNA) Taiwan recorded the world’s largest wintering population of

(Photo courtesy of Wang Cheng-chi)

black-faced spoonbills this year, with 2,601 birds recorded, the Forestry Bureau under the Council of Agriculture said Tuesday.

This year’s figure marks 541 more than last year, or a world record high increase, and it is the third consecutive year in which the number has exceeded 2,000, the bureau said, citing the results of the International Black-faced Spoonbill Census 2017 conducted Jan. 14-15.

The Taiwan section of the census was conducted at 51 sites in Taiwan by the Wild Bird Society of the Republic of China, along with 26 wild bird groups around the country, according to the bureau.    [FULL  STORY]

Over half of Taiwanese reject ‘one China’: survey

Taipei Times
Date: Mar 29, 2017
By: Chung Li-hua and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer

More than half of Taiwanese do not agree with the concept of a “constitutional one China” (憲法一中), while nearly one-quarter reject Beijing’s “one China” principle, a media survey showed.

The survey, commissioned by the Chinese-language online media outlet My Formosa, defined “constitutional one China” as: “According to the Constitution of the Republic of China, its amendments and relevant laws, the sovereign territory of our country is comprised of the Taiwan region and the Mainland region. Therefore the two sides across the Strait belong to the same country, which is the Republic of China.”

The poll showed that 8.9 percent of respondents “strongly agreed” with the statement, while 23.7 percent “somewhat agreed” — for a total of 32.6 percent.

However, 20.7 percent of respondents said they “somewhat disagreed” and 33.3 percent said they “strongly disagreed” with the definition — for a total of 54 percent — while 13.4 percent had no opinion.    [FULL  STORY]

Warm Wednesday throughout Taiwan

The China Post
Date: March 29, 2017
By: The China Post news staff

Temperatures will continue to rise Wednesday throughout Taiwan, with highs hitting 28

(CNA) Warm weather has been forecast throughout Taiwan for Wednesday.

to 30 degrees in Southern and Central Taiwan, according to the Central Weather Bureau.

In the north and other areas, residents can expect comfortable daytime weather in the range of 24 to 26 C.

A slight increase in overall moisture will bring more cloud cover to some areas, with rain possible in the northeast, as well as mountainous areas in Northern Taiwan.
[FULL  STORY]

Asia connections a pillar for Taiwan moving forward: Tsai

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-03-28

President Tsai Ing-wen says she sees greater connection with other Asian societies

President Tsai Ing-wen (right) (CNA photo)

being an important pillar for Taiwan in the years ahead. The president on Tuesday was addressing over 100 representatives of overseas Chinese communities from 12 countries in Asia.

The president said her administration is pushing its New Southbound policy to increase exchanges and cooperation with nations in South and Southeast Asia. At the same time, she also expressed desire for closer ties with Japan and South Korea.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan to attend 2017 Bologna Children’s Book Fair

The Taiwan pavilion will feature the pluralistic applications of picture books

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/03/28
By: Maggie Huang,Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Bologna Children’s Book Exhibition is kicking off from April 3 to 6, marking its 54th year. Taiwan’s official pavilion will carry the theme of “Taiwan∞” at the upcoming book fair, featuring the pluralistic applications of picture books, the Ministry of Culture said Monday.

The Taiwan pavilion will demonstrate how Taiwan’s original picture books have been transformed into different products and showing the unlimited energy of Taiwan’s picture books to the world, the ministry said.

Books of 43 Taiwanese illustrators who have been selected for the Bologna Illustrators Exhibition since 1989 will be on display at the pavilion, according to the ministry.
[FULL  STORY]

Vice president vows continued efforts on sustainable development

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/03/28
By: Sophia Yeh and S.C. Chang

Taipei, March 28 (CNA) Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) said Tuesday that Taiwan will continue to work with foreign friends in contributing to the planet’s sustainable development and issues related to climate change.

Chen made the commitment during a meeting with a group of experts on sustainable development led by Alistair Edgar, executive director of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), at the Presidential Office.

The vice president thanked his guests for having worked with Taiwan’s overseas-based officials to stage seminars on important global issues and for sharing their expertise and professional knowledge with Taiwanese government officials.

Though Taiwan is in a “delicate” situation diplomatically, it has never hesitated in taking on a proper role in global projects as a responsible member of the international community, he said.    [FULL  STORY]