The China Post
Date: October 11, 2016
By: Joseph Yeh

TAIPEI, Taiwan — More than 3,000 local and foreign guests enjoyed Taiwanese delicacies and

performances at the Taipei Guest House on Monday evening to celebrate the Republic of China’s 105th birthday.

Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the National Day reception dinner, the first since President Tsai Ing-wen assumed office, showcased a series of music and performances by a Taiwanese group.

But what caught the attention of most guests were an array of Taiwanese delicacies, including Din Tai Fung’s xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), as well as Hakka dishes and aboriginal cuisines.

Dishes from Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia were also served during the event.

Entering the reception around 5:30 p.m., Tsai accompanied Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of Taiwan’s Caribbean ally, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, first stopped at the Hakka dish area to enjoy a bowl of Hakka-style rice noodles.     [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: October 10, 2016
By: CNA

TAIPEI — Neither heart surgery, financial woes or damage to his thousands of national flags will keep a

Taoyuan resident from hosting a national flag-raising ceremony on the Republic of China’s National Day for the 22nd consecutive year on Monday.

Seventy-six-year-old Chang Lao-wang (張老旺) will take up the role he has held for more than two decades at a plaza next to a park in Pingzhen District despite being in poor health.

Chang had a heart operation recently and has faced financial difficulties since then, and his problems were compounded last month when Typhoon Megi damaged thousands of his own flags that he used to decorate the flag-raising venue.

Upon learning of Chang’s problems, his nephew Chang Kuo-wei (張國偉), who recently retired from the military, spent NT$80,000 (US$2,550) to purchase national flags to help Chang collect the 20,000 national flags he needed for the ceremony.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/10/09
By: Tang Pei-chun and Kay Liu

Taipei, Oct. 9 (CNA) St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and Speaker of

the House of Assembly Jomo Thomas arrived in Taiwan on Sunday for a five-day visit, during which they will attend National Day celebrations on Monday.

It is the 10th visit to Taiwan by Gonsalves, who won a fourth term as prime minister after leading his Unity Labour Party to victory in the Caribbean country’s general elections in December 2015, the ministry said.

Apart from attending the Oct. 10 National Day celebration and an banquet on Monday, Gonsalves is scheduled to meet with students from his country who are studying in Taiwan, according to the ministry.

He will also visit the Ministry of Education and the Overseas Investment & Development Corp., as well as the Taipei 101 skyscraper, the Yingge Ceramics Museum and Gold Museum in New Taipei, and the Lanyang Museum in Yilan County, the ministry added.     [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: October 10, 2016
By: Yuan-Ming Chiao

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Penghu, a ring-shaped island chain of stark contrasts. From April to October, its

pristine white sand beaches, glorious ocean views, and fresh seafood attract tens of thousands of tourists looking to escape the urban jungle. After mid-October, powerful northern gales sweep across the landscape and much of the area becomes a ghost town.

But Penghu’s contrasts are not limited to geography and climate.

On Oct. 15, residents of Penghu will again be asked to decide in a referendum whether they support the establishment of casinos within an integrated resort on the archipelago.

The process has been one of fierce public debate, spilling onto the streets of not only Magong, the county seat, but also Taipei.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-10-08
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Taiwan’s weather bureau has issued torrential rain advisories for 11 cities and counties as the circulating currents in Typhoon Aere’s periphery will continue to trigger downpours across the island.

From North to South: residents of Keelung City, New Taipei City, Yilan County, Chiayi County and City, Tainan City, Kaohsiung City, Penghu County, Hualien County, Pingtung County, and Taitung County are advised of potential heavy rain. Among them, Taitung County and Pingtung County are cautioned against extremely heavy rainfall and flooding over the upcoming three-day holiday, which is set to celebrate the country’s Double Ten National Day.

The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) has also issued strong wind advisories for 16 counties and cities in northeastern and eastern Taiwan along with the main offshore islands including Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/10/08
By: Liu Chien-pang and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Oct. 8 (CNA) The city of Taipei is offering free rides to senior citizens on its Metro system and

the Maokong Gondola from Oct. 9 to 15 to honor the elderly in coincidence of the Double Ninth Festival, the Taipei Metro said Saturday.

This year’s Double Ninth Festival — the ninth day of the ninth month on the lunar calendar — falls on Oct. 9.

Any Taipei residents 65 years old or older or indigenous people aged 55 or over and registered in Taipei will be entitled to the free rides.

Individuals with e-senior citizen cards from other cities and counties in Taiwan will also be able to travel for free on the city’s subway system and the Maokong Gondola.

To avoid a long wait for the Maokong Gondola ride, the Taipei Metro suggested using the online reservation system to book a time.     [FULL  STORY]