Page Three

Families of 228 Incident victims laud commission

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 18, 2017
By: Abraham Gerber / Staff reporter

The Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee’s measures to seize illicit Chinese Nationalist Party

228 Memorial Foundation Chairman Hsueh Hua-yuan yesterday speaks at a news conference in Taipei. Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times

(KMT) assets would fulfill the long-standing wishes of 228 Incident victims, representatives of victims’ families said yesterday.

Speaking at a news conference, the representatives also expressed their support for the government’s efforts toward transitional justice.

“We have been compensated, but the entire nation had to pay for it, not the perpetrators,” Taiwan 228 Incident Care Association director-general Pan Hsin-hsing (潘信行) said, adding that seizure of KMT assets by the committee would cover the costs of compensation.

“The committee’s moves to handle the issue are exactly what we filed for years ago, but failed to attain,” he said, referring to a suit brought by victims’ families to have the KMT pay compensation.    [FULL  STORY]

Military choppers land at defense ministry’s compound

The China Post
Date: February 18, 2017
By: Joseph Yeh

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Two military helicopters landed at the Ministry of National Defense headquarters in

A military helicopter lands at the Defense Ministry compound in Taipei’s Dazhi area on Friday, Feb. 17. (Photo courtesy of Military News Agency)

Taipei for the first time as part of an exercise to test the military’s combat readiness and emergency response measures, the military said Friday.

The drill held early Friday saw one Naval anti-submarine S-70C helicopter and an Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter land at 7:15 a.m. on a helicopter pad at the compound in Taipei’s Dazhi area. The two helicopters departed from the nearby Taipei Songshan Air Base on 6:50 a.m., the defense ministry said in a released statement.

The drill was meant to test combat readiness of the armed forces and response measures in case of emergency, ministry noted.

The Chinese-language Apple Daily said the drill was also meant to test the emergency evacuation and escape protocols to keep the president safe in the event of a national crisis. The R.O.C. president would be taken to a safe house on board a UH-60M Black Hawk.    [FULL  STORY]

Foreign ministry working to get Taiwan a WHA spot

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-02-16

The foreign ministry has begun work on securing Taiwan an observer seat at this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA). That was the word from foreign ministry official Michael Hsu on Thursday.

The WHA is the annual meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO). This year’s meeting will take place from May 22-31. Hsu told reporters that the WHO will likely begin sending out invitations to observers in mid-March. Hsu said Taiwan has already communicated its hope to attend this year’s WHA. He also said Taiwan will work to build support for its participation among its diplomatic allies and other countries with similar values.

Hsu said Taiwan hopes to receive an invitation so that it can help meet the WHO’s 2030 sustainability goals.

Taiwan’s attendance at last year’s WHA was fraught with uncertainty in the run-up to the event due to interference from China. Beijing’s boycott of President Tsai Ing-wen’s administration also meant Taiwan was not invited to last year’s meetings of the International Civil Aviation Organization and Interpol.    [FULL  STORY]

U.S. Marines to be posted at new AIT building: former director

U.S. Marines will be stationed at the new de facto American embassy in Neihu later this year

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/02/16 18:21
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — U.S. Marines will be posted at the new American Institute in

U.S. Marines from Marine Barracks Washington march by Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va. (By Wikimedia Commons)

Taiwan (AIT) complex which is slated to be completed later this year, according to former AIT Director Stephen Young (楊甦棣).

During a speech in U.S. policy seminar at the Global Taiwan Institute in Washington D.C., Young said that the U.S. would be in charge of security at the new compound, which will be based in Taipei’s Neihu District, and that having the Marines stand guard at the facility would be a “symbolic expression of the U.S. commitment to its friends in Taiwan.”

In the past, the United States always sent the Marine Corps to provide security for overseas embassies and consulates, but after severing relations with Taiwan in 1979, the two countries continued to maintain “unofficial relations,” through the AIT, which is officially a non-profit “non-governmental organization,” with no Marines stationed. However it is understood that since 2005, the U.S. began stationing military officers in AIT Taipei office location, but with no military uniform.    [FULL  STORY]

EPA responds to poor air quality in western Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/02/16
By: Yu Haiso-han and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Feb. 16 (CNA) The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said Thursday

CNA file photo

that air quality in western Taiwan over the next few days will be generally poor and made a number of proposals for local governments to improve the situation.

The EPA said the situation will not improve until Saturday and urged all those who suffer from allergies to be vigilant.

The agency has alerted local education authorities, asking them to observe air quality monitoring data and adopt appropriate measures to ensure the health of students in schools and nurseries.    [FULL  STORY]

Legislators’ visit to India prompts Chinese protest

LOOPHOLE:The group sought to kick-start efforts to enhance Taiwan’s loose diplomatic and economic ties to India, triggering a protest from Beijing

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 17, 2017
By: Reuters, BEIJING

China has lodged a diplomatic protest with India over a visit by a legislative delegation from Taiwan, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

Three Taiwanese lawmakers, led by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲), began their visit to New Delhi on Monday.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang (耿爽) told a regular press briefing in Beijing that China had lodged “solemn representations” with the Indian government over the issue.

“We have always been resolutely opposed to any country with diplomatic relations with China having any form of official exchanges — or establishment of any official institutions — with Taiwan. This position is consistent and clear-cut,” he said.
[FULL  STORY]

Free rides on Airport MRT begin Thursday

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-02-15

The Taoyuan Airport MRT will begin offering free rides on Thursday as it begins trial operations.

Passengers can check in their bags and get their boarding passes at Taipei Main Station. City check-in and bag drop services will also be free during this period. China Airlines, EVA Airways and their subsidiaries Mandarin Airlines and UNI Airways will have check-in counters.

Other airlines will add services after official operations begin. Airport officials are advising passengers to use the city check-in 3 hours before their flights.

Passengers will have access to all 21 stations on the 51 kilometer line.Taiwan protests over Japan’s claim to Diaoyutai in revised textbook guidelines

Taiwan foreign ministry reaffirms its territorial sovereignty over Diaoyutai

Taiwan News
dATE: 2017/02/15
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

(By Wikimedia Commons)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Japan’s education ministry announced a plan on Tuesday that lists the contested Diaoyutai (釣魚台), known as the Senkaku (尖閣列島) in Japan, as an “inherent territory” of Japan in its revised curriculum guideline designed for elementary and junior high school students. Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan lodged a formal protest against the claim and reiterated Taiwan’s sovereignty over the archipelago.

Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is no stranger to diplomatic controversy, given that it has long been lambasted by its neighbors including China and South Korea for intentionally covering up its war crimes, including massacres and the sexual slavery of “comfort women” since the 1980s, displaying a very different perception of the same events in its neighboring countries. The controversy has recently extended beyond matters of war and to the territorial disputes on Diaoyutai and Takeshima (竹島), which is called Dokdo (獨島) in Korea.

A Japanese education official said on Wednesday that both Senkaku and Takeshima are “inherent territories” of Japan and there is no question to have the country’s future generation to know the fact.    [SOURCE]

Taiwan protests over Japan’s claim to Diaoyutai in revised textbook guidelines

Taiwan foreign ministry reaffirms its territorial sovereignty over Diaoyutai

Taiwan News
dATE: 2017/02/15
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Japan’s education ministry announced a plan on Tuesday that

(By Wikimedia Commons)

lists the contested Diaoyutai (釣魚台), known as the Senkaku (尖閣列島) in Japan, as an “inherent territory” of Japan in its revised curriculum guideline designed for elementary and junior high school students. Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan lodged a formal protest against the claim and reiterated Taiwan’s sovereignty over the archipelago.

Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is no stranger to diplomatic controversy, given that it has long been lambasted by its neighbors including China and South Korea for intentionally covering up its war crimes, including massacres and the sexual slavery of “comfort women” since the 1980s, displaying a very different perception of the same events in its neighboring countries. The controversy has recently extended beyond matters of war and to the territorial disputes on Diaoyutai and Takeshima (竹島), which is called Dokdo (獨島) in Korea.
[FULL  STORY]

Taipei ranked 21st best student city worldwide

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/02/15
By: Tai Ya-chen and Elizabeth Hsu

London, Feb. 15 (CNA) Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, was listed 21st on the latest Best

(CNA file photo)

Student Cities index released Wednesday by a British company specializing in education and study abroad.

Taipei was one of two cities in Taiwan that made the top-100 list of best urban destinations for international students, which is compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) based on university rankings, student mix, employer activity, desirability, affordability, and student views.

The other Taiwan city was Hsinchu, which is known as the Silicon Valley of the East because of its science park and was ranked 75th on the QS list.   [FULL  STORY]

Ko seeks aid with Songshan airport move after ride on MRT

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 16, 2017
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter

The launch of the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, left, and Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan ride the Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line from Taipei yesterday. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times

will likely affect passenger volumes at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said after a ride on the new line yesterday, calling on the Executive Yuan to help streamline efforts by Taipei and Taoyuan to relocate the Songshan facility.

Ko and Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) rode the MRT line, which opened this month on a trial basis.

Ko praised the “excellent” construction quality of the line, saying that the ride was “smooth and comfortable.”

He was equally complimentary of outlets in the carriages for passengers to charge mobile devices, as well as free Wi-Fi connectivity, saying that he had instructed Taipei Rapid Transit Corp to offer free Wi-Fi services in Taipei MRT carriages by the end of the year.    [FULL  STORY]