The China Post
Date: November 24, 2016
By: CNA

Tam Han-je, an undergraduate student at the Chinese Culture University Department of Optoelectric Physics, is seen in this photo provided by the university on Wednesday, Nov. 23. Tam captured a rare photo showing the docking of Chinese space laboratory Tiangong-2 and Chinese spacecraft Shenzhou 11, while on the roof of a building at the university on Nov. 17. The photo was published by the website spaceweather.com.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: November 22, 2016

President Tsai Ing-wen received a U.S. congressional delegation led by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson

Nov. 21 at the Office of the President in Taipei City, expressing Taiwan’s commitment to consolidating and deepening the strong ties between the two sides.

Tsai thanked Johnson, a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, for her staunch support of the nation’s international participation. The Texas congresswoman co-sponsored a bill, HR 1853, directing U.S. President Barack Obama to develop a strategy to assist Taiwan in obtaining observer status in Interpol that was approved unanimously in November 2015 by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The president reaffirmed the nation’s determination to making significant contributions to major global issues. Tsai added that she expects the newly elected U.S. government will continue to uphold its security commitment to Taiwan as well as maintain close economic and cultural interactions in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances.

Signed into law in 1979 after the U.S. switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing, the TRA authorizes the continuation of substantive relations between the people of the U.S. and the people of Taiwan. In 1982, then U.S. President Ronald Reagan issued the Six Assurances, stipulating the U.S. would not set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan; revise the TRA; consult with mainland China on arms sales to Taiwan; mediate between Taiwan and mainland China; alter its position on the sovereignty of Taiwan or exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into talks with mainland China; or formally recognize mainland Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/11/22
By: Huang Kuo-fang and Bear Lee

Chiayi, Nov. 22 (CNA) A brother of Peng Liyuan (彭麗媛), China’s first lady, arrived in Taiwan on

Tuesday to attend the funeral of their uncle in southern Taiwan the following day.

Peng Lei (彭磊), was greeted by staff from the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), Taiwan’s semi-official agency in charge of cross-strait exchanges in the absence of formal ties between Taiwan and China. He was scheduled to stay at a hotel in Chiayi.

Lee Hsin-kai (李新凱), his mother’s brother, died in Chiayi, southern Taiwan, on Nov. 11 at the age of 86.

Lee fled to Taiwan as a student and joined the army at the rank of sergeant after the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, later becoming an elementary school teacher in Chiayi.

He visited China on several occasions, where he was reportedly afforded high-level treatment by Chinese officials.    [FULL  STORY]

TWO-TRACK SYSTEM:Chung Yuan Christian University said that the rules should not be tinkered with, adding that a separate law could regulate homosexual unions

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 23, 2016
By: Sean Lin / Staff reporter

Chung Yuan Christian University in Taoyuan yesterday issued a statement opposing the legalization of

same-sex marriage.

Marriage, by its holy nature, should consist of one man and one woman; one husband and one wife, adhering to “nature’s rule of ethics,” the university said in the statement.

A family put together by a father and a mother is a value that should be protected, as it forms the bedrock of family ethics, it said.

Based on the Christian doctrine of holy matrimony and “gender equality,” the university does not approve of same-sex marriage and is against amending laws governing marriage, it said.

With respect to the needs of same-sex couples, the university is in favor of formulating separate laws to protect their rights, it said.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: November 21, 2016

President Tsai Ing-wen expressed hope that Taiwan can further expand mutually beneficial

cooperation with African nations at a reception celebrating Africa Day Nov. 18 in Taipei City.

Held annually to commemorate the May 25, 1963, establishment of the Organization of African Unity, Africa Day marks the journey and struggles of African people in their pursuit of democracy, freedom and independence. Arranged by African embassies and representative offices in Taiwan, the Taipei event is typically staged in May but was delayed this year in view of Tsai’s inauguration the same month.

In her address, the president noted Taiwan enjoys close ties with African countries, and voiced gratitude for the attendance of delegates from many allied and friendly African nations at her inauguration. She also highlighted the continent’s huge growth potential, praising the achievements of African people for building robust economies and raising standards of living.

“African solidarity and cooperation promise steady progress toward a future of prosperity. Taiwan is proud to have been a part of the journey,” she said. “As an ally and partner who shares the universal values of democracy, tolerance and diversity, we’ll go forward with you hand in hand.”    [FULL  STORY]

Political intervention to divide Taiwan into “blue and green” territories can only hurt Taiwanese people’s feeling and intensify the rupture between people, Kaohsiung mayor said.

Taiwan News
Date: 2016/11/2
By: Taiwan News, Staff Writer

A Chinese agriculture produce and gift industry delegation arrived in Taiwan on Monday to visit the

eight counties and cities ruled by the Kuomintang (KMT) party, skipping all the other territories ruled by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

The delegation, authorized by the Chinese government, came after the chiefs of the eight “blue” Taiwanese counties and cities visited China in September. According to media reports, the delegation plans to spend eight days and seven nights to complete the tour, viewing agricultural products and specialties of these selected areas and paving the way for a planned promotional tour organized by the KMT-ruled counties and cities to promote their agriculture as well as tourism in China, slated to take place at the end of December.

The delegation will reportedly “only transit through and not make any purchases” in the “green” territories.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/11/21
By: Wang Shu-fen and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Nov. 21 (CNA) Stability tests of the airport MRT line have met the standard needed to take the next step toward launching the system’s commercial operations, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) and Taoyuan Metro Corp. announced Monday.

The stability of the line in tests conducted over seven consecutive days from Nov. 14 to 20 reached 99.52 percent, surpassing the 99 percent threshold needed to apply to the MOTC for a preliminary inspection, Taoyuan Metro Corp. said.

Transportation Minister Ho Chen Tan (賀陳旦), who looked at the A1 station (Taipei Main Station), the stability tests and the MRT flight check-in system on Monday, said the line can now be certified by an independent international company for safety.

Preliminary and second inspections will follow, along with the process of gathering expert views before final test runs are conducted and commercial operations begin, Ho Chen said.    [FULL  STORY]