The China Post
Date: September 15, 2016
By: Joseph Yeh

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will make a final decision next week on which

overseas office is to be scrapped, Foreign Minister David Lee (李大維) said Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters at a ceremony in Taipei commemorating the swearing in of new overseas representatives , Lee said many lawmakers had called on the ministry to reevaluate the cost-effectiveness of running a total of 117 overseas offices around the world.

Many of them believed there were too many offices, urging the ministry to close some to make to better use of the limited foreign affairs budget, Lee said.

The ministry has recently been conducting an evaluation of its overseas offices. Lee said that the ministry would definitely “make adjustments” to the number of existing overseas offices.

But he also noted that the decision will have to be made cautiously, saying cuts should not only be based on cost-effectiveness but also strategic diplomatic objectives.     [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan Today
Date: September 13, 2016

Taiwan and India signed an air services agreement and a memorandum of understanding on agricultural

cooperation Sept. 12 in Taipei City, marking a significant step forward in relations between the two sides, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“In line with the government’s New Southbound Policy, the accords will open a new chapter in bilateral exchanges and cooperation across the fields of agriculture, aviation and tourism,” the MOFA said. “In addition, Taiwan looks forward to deepening its partnership with India in such areas as culture, education, science, technology and trade.”

The air services agreement covers issues related to aviation safety and security, commercial opportunities, cooperative marketing arrangements, recognition of certificates, settlement of disputes, and tariffs. It enables multiple airlines to operate 14 direct passenger services from each side per week, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

There are currently three direct passenger flights as well as one cargo flight each week between Taipei and New Delhi provided by Taiwan-based China Airlines. The signing of the air services pact builds a solid foundation for the development of civil aviation relations between India and Taiwan and will help facilitate increased bilateral trade and economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and tourism, the MOTC said.     [FULL  STORY]

‘HOT AIR’:A group of KMT lawmakers clad in blue shirts gathered outside the legislative chamber and popped balloons they say represented the government’s policies

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 14, 2016
By: Alison Hsiao / Staff Reporter

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday called for a Cabinet reshuffle or Premier Lin

Chuan’s (林全) resignation, during the first meeting of the new legislative session attended by Lin and his Cabinet.

In response to queries about the calls for his resignation from the KMT and former presidential adviser Koo Kwang-ming (辜寬敏), who made the call on Monday, Lin said that there could be adjustments to the Cabinet, but a “Cabinet reshuffle is not under consideration.”

Before Lin’s scheduled address to the general assembly, about 30 KMT lawmakers clad in blue shirts, held banners and placards in the general assembly chamber, chanting slogans demanding Lin’s resignations if a Cabinet reshuffle is not planned and criticizing what they said were policy failures and flip-flops of the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).

The group sat in the front of the speaker’s podium throughout Lin’s address and rose up to chant slogans again after Lin finished speaking.     [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: September 14, 2016
By Stephanie Chao

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Despite earmarking NT$20.8 billion for 2017 for those in need of long-term care,

the government has been criticized by advocacy groups and legislators who contend there is a still a lack of funding for caregivers in lower-middle and low-income families.

Speaking at a press conference at the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Liou Chien-kuo called for an increase in subsidies for severely disabled senior citizens from affected households. Liou said that at present, nonprofit long-term care institutions lack sufficient resources to care for the those in a vulnerable economic situation.

The press conference was convened by Liou and Health Ministry representatives, along with over 200 family members of people with severe disabilities, led by the National Union of Long Term Care Development Association in Taiwan.

The family members said the current budget is unrealistic for meeting the demands of lower-middle and low-income households    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-09-12
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Two business owners from Chiayi, who joined Monday’s protest in Taipei City organized by tourism related chambers of commerce around Taiwan, said they hope the government will listen to their appeals and do something to help them feed their families as their businesses have been hardly hit by declining Chinese tourist numbers.

Lin Hsia-chou, who runs a restaurant on Alishan, and Lin Mei-mei, who owns a shop of tea leaves in Chiayi, are among the protestants from Chiayi who came to join the protest in 13 tour buses.

Numbers of Chinese tourists visiting Alishan have dropped 80 percent, seriously impacting business in the area, Lin Hsia-chou said, adding that his restaurant used to have more than 30 employees, but now there are only about 10. He pleaded the government not to interfere with people’s life with its political stance, saying that their appeal is very simple, and that is they want to have a stable life and they want to be able to make a living.     [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/09/12
By: Tai Ya-chen and S.C. Chang

Taipei, Sept. 12 (CNA) Premier Lin Chuan (林全) will lead Taiwan’s economic revitalization based on

three principles — innovation, employment and distribution, according to a Cabinet report to be delivered to the Legislature on Tuesday.

Lin will lead his Cabinet to make the report and answer legislators’ questions as the Legislature begins a new session that day.

To re-engineer the overall development model for Taiwan, Lin said the Executive Yuan will speed up the upgrading of industries by increasing investment in the nation’s infrastructure, promoting talent recruitment and retention programs and loosening economic and financial regulations.

Another priority for the Cabinet administration will be the establishment of a social safety net to realize social justice, according to the report, which notes that ways of achieving this policy goal will include promoting urban renewal projects, strengthening food safety rules, raising the quality of long-term care programs for seniors and the disabled, and implementing pension reforms.     [FULL  STORY]