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Long-term care reform cannot be rushed: president

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 30, 2016
By: Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

Amid the government’s push of its long-term care services program 2.0, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that laying a foundation is crucial for any reform and cannot be rushed.

Tsai made the remarks at a long-term care workers experience sharing session held by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taipei, saying that the program must be established, because Taiwan is gradually becoming an aging society.

“Establishing a findable, visible, usable and affordable long-term care service system is a very important policy of the administration,” she said. “Long-term care workers are the most important human resources in the system.”

Tsai tablked about her experience of being unemployed and caring for her mother at home, saying she deeply feels that long-term care workers need not only a caring heart and patience, but a profession.    [FULL  STORY]

Japan envoy calls on Taiwan to lift food ban

The China Post
Date: November 30, 2016
By Joseph Yeh

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A top Japanese envoy on Tuesday called on Taiwan to lift its import restrictions on

Mitsuo Ohashi, chairman of the Japan Interchange Association (JIA), speaks during the opening ceremony of the Taiwan-Japan Trade and Economic Meeting in Taipei on Tuesday, Nov. 29. (Joseph Yeh, The China Post)

Mitsuo Ohashi, chairman of the Japan Interchange Association (JIA), speaks during the opening ceremony of the Taiwan-Japan Trade and Economic Meeting in Taipei on Tuesday, Nov. 29. (Joseph Yeh, The China Post)

products from Japan’s nuclear-affected areas as soon as possible, as annual trade and economic talks between both sides kicked off in Taipei.

During his opening remarks, Japan Interchange Association (JIA) chairman Mitsuo Ohashi discussed Taiwan’s ban on some Japanese food products following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in March 2011.

He said he wanted to thank Taiwan’s government for their ongoing efforts in moving toward lifting the ban.

Ohashi said Tokyo had heard some “ungrounded accusations” about Japanese food imports to Taipei, which he said had “seriously hurt the feelings of people in Fukushima and other parts of Japan.”    [FULL  STORY]

Tsai should use weekly meetings to regroup

The China Post
Date: November 29, 2016
By: Stephanie Chao

TAIPEI, Taiwan — President Tsai Ing-wen’s weekly policy coordination meeting, which she began holding at the beginning of October, lasts into the evening hours each Monday. The meeting has been widely regarded as an attempt by the Tsai administration to shore up support for the overnment, as well to make policy-making more efficient.

Whether the meetings have been successful is difficult to say.

The meetings themselves were strongly criticized by opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers as “unconstitutional.” The lawmakers alleged that because Tsai hosted the meetings and led discussions among administrative heads about policy-making, it has eroded Premier Lin Chuan’s authority as the central government’s head.

While those claims were refuted by Lin, it poses a worryingly precedent.

This was evident at the end of the first coordination meeting, when Tsai gave the green light for the controversial workweek bill, instructing the government to step up policy promotion efforts and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus to speed up legislature passage by the end of this legislative session.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan to stage disaster relief drill in South China Sea

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/11/28
By: Chu Tze-wei, Lu Hsin-hui and S.C. Chang

Taipei, Nov. 28 (CNA) Taiwan will stage a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise in the

CNA file photo

CNA file photo

waters around Taiping Island in the South China Sea on Tuesday, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said on Monday.

Three aircraft and eight ships will take part in the exercise, dubbed “Nanyuan No. 1.” Nanyuan means assistance to the south. The exercise is designed to demonstrate Taiwan’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capability, according to CGA.

Participants from the coastguard and navy will simulate fire fighting operations on a foreign freighter in waters near Taiping Island in the Spratlys and rescuing crew members, according to CGA.

The exercise will allow participants to practice reporting a maritime accident and the division of labor needed to provide assistance in such situations.    [FULL  STORY]

No controversial issues expected at Japan talks

TRADE MEETING:Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lee said the two sides would not discuss import rules on food from Japan or fishing rights near Okinotori Atoll

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 29, 2016
By: Staff writer, with CNA

No controversial issues will be discussed at the annual trade and economic talks between Taiwan and

Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lee speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Lee said he does not expect any controversial issues to be discussed at today’s annual trade and economic meeting between Taiwan and Japan. Photo: CNA

Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lee speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Lee said he does not expect any controversial issues to be discussed at today’s annual trade and economic meeting between Taiwan and Japan. Photo: CNA

Japan, which start today in Taipei, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lee (李大維) said yesterday.

Lee made the remarks in response to media queries about whether the issue of Taiwan’s ban on food imports from five Japanese prefectures near the site of the defunct Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant will be put on the negotiating table at the two-day Taiwan-Japan Trade and Economic Meeting.

The government is considering lifting the ban at Japan’s request, but has encountered heavy opposition, mainly over food safety concerns.

Lee said that the government would continue to uphold its strict regulations on the import of Japanese food products.

Food products from Japan will not be allowed into the nation unless they pass a strict science-based inspection, he said.

Lee said that the two sides would not discuss the matter of fishing rights in waters near Japan’s Okinotori Atoll.

What will be addressed at the meeting are issues related to intellectual property rights and agricultural produce, he said, adding that no one can predict whether any substantial conclusions would be reached at the talks.   [FULL  STORY]

Public opinion data show Tsai losing base

The China Post
Date: November 29, 2016
By: Stephanie Chao

TAIPEI, Taiwan — New poll figures showing a continuing slide in President Tsai Ing-wen’s approval ratings have sparked suggestions that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is losing not only the support of floating voters, but also its own pan-green base.

The president’s approval rating hit a new low for her time in office, in a poll released Monday by polling agency the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation (台灣民意基金會).

Since her inauguration, support for Tsai has tumbled by 28.5 percent, with experts calling it a “worrying erosion of support,” as the administration hits the six-month mark.

According to the poll, 41.4 percent approved of Tsai’s handling of national matters and personnel appointments in the past half year since May 20, while 42.6 percent did not.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan TV drama to be broadcast in El Salvador

The China Post
Date: November 28, 2016
By: CNA

TAIPEI, Taiwan — A popular Taiwanese television drama, “The Way We Were (16 個夏天),” will be broadcast in Spanish in El Salvador, starting on Dec. 4, according to Taiwan’s embassy in the Central American country.

Airing the series abroad is part of the government’s efforts to promote Taiwan’s TV industry and introduce Taiwanese culture and people to foreign allies, said Florencia Hsieh (謝妙宏) while unveiling the series in San Salvador on Nov. 24.

The series, which spans a period from 1998 to 2014, focuses on love and friendship and is set against major events that occurred in Taiwan during the summers over those 17 years.

Its five major characters reflect the values that are important to Taiwanese, such as friendship, forgiveness, loyalty, and cooperation, Hsieh said at the promotional event on Nov. 24, according to a statement released by the embassy.    [FULL  STORY]

GOLDEN HORSE AWARDS: China’s Zhou Dongyu, Ma Sichun win best actress

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/11/27
By: Central News Agency

Chinese actresses Zhou Dongyu and Ma Sichun on Saturday shared the Golden Horse Award for best 583a5a1e02deflead actress with their performances in the romantic drama “Soul Mate”, about the love and life of two best friends.

“Soul Mate,” by Hong Kong director Derek Tsang, is about two best friends Qiyue and Ansheng, played by Ma and Zhou, whose friendship is tested and whose lives take different turns after they fall in love with the same man.

Judges said Zhou’s role as the rebellious and contradictory Ansheng successfully captured the audience’s attention and played on its emotions, depending on the mood of the character.

Meanwhile, Qiyue appeared to be a more reserved character, but Ma went on to show “stunning contrast” after repressing her emotions, judges said, adding that Qiyue was a difficult character to interpret, with a deep and layered inner world.    [FULL  STORY]

Civil groups supporting same-sex marriage rally around Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/11/27
By: Liao Jen-kai, Chen Chih-chung and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Nov. 27 (CNA) Several civil groups that support same-sex marriage staged rallies in eastern,

Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) (Photo courtesy of a member of the public)

Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) (Photo courtesy of a member of the public)

central and southern Taiwan on Sunday.

In Tainan, scores of supporters braved the cold rain to hold placards reading “Safeguard equal marriage rights for all,” and representatives of several groups took turns to speak.

One representative said this was the first time that the LGBT community is most likely to successfully obtain rights for same-sex marriage, and he expressed the hope of making more efforts.

He noted that there will be a large rainbow parade on Dec. 31 in Tainan, and he hoped more will people will participate in the parade.

In Taichung, Hsu Hsiu-wen (許秀雯), head of the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights, said the amendment to the Civil Code was the easiest way to deal with the issue and had the lowest cost.    [FULL  STORY]

KMT divided on assets committee decision: sources

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 28, 2016
By: Stacy Hsu / Staff reporter, with CNA

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is said to be divided on how the party should react to the Ill-gotten Party Assets Settlement Committee’s decision on Friday to nationalize the party’s shareholding rights to two KMT-affiliated companies, with some pushing for administrative litigation and others calling for protests, sources said.

The Executive Yuan-affiliated committee made a decision after convening a meeting on Friday to order the KMT to transfer all its rights to shares issued by Central Investment Co (中央投資公司) and Hsinyutai Co (欣裕台) to the government.

The KMT is planning to file for administrative litigation requesting the suspension of the order after receiving a letter of disposition from the committee.

According to a KMT member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the most effective approach would be legal and political action, which is why the KMT is planning to file for administrative litigation and even request a constitutional interpretation should the court rule against it.    [FULL  STORY]